If you are pregnant, you probably want to take every precaution to ensure a healthy baby. You will discover that there are several guidelines regarding your diet, supplementation, exercise regimen and exposure to certain chemicals or bacteria. As new information is discovered about how foods and beverages can affect pregnancy, these guidelines are sometimes updated or changed. This can be confusing, but you can stay on the safe side by practicing moderation and caution in your dietary habits. Soft and semi-soft cheeses like gorgonzola are foods that you should discuss with your doctor if you are pregnant.
History
Soft cheeses first became a cause for concern in the 1980s, when they were associated with an outbreak of listeriosis, a disease caused by the listeria bacterium. According to Elliot T. Ryser and Elmer H. Marth in their book, "Listeria, Listerosis and Food Safety," the most significant outbreak of listeriosis occurred in 1985 in Los Angeles. The outbreak, which occurred over the course of eight months, included 142 cases of listeriosis, 93 of whom were pregnant women. Among the pregnant women, there was a 32 percent fatality rate. All of these were fetal deaths or neonatal deaths. A type of Mexican-style soft cheese was suspected to be the cause, Ryser and Marth noted.
Theories/Speculation
According to Baby Center, the link between soft cheeses and listeria infection is related to the use of unpasteurized milk in cheese production. Also known as "raw" milk, unpasteurized milk can carry the listeria monocytogenes bacterium as well as various other disease-causing organisms. Pregnant women are more than 20 times more likely to be infected by listeria than other adults, reports Baby Center. You should also avoid unpasteurized milk and any other dairy products made from it.
Types
According to the American Pregnancy Association, there are several types of soft cheese that may increase your risk of listeria infection. These cheeses include Brie, camembert, roquefort, feta, gorgonzola and Mexican-style cheeses that include queso blanco and queso fresco. You should talk to your doctor prior to eating any of these cheeses during pregnancy. Because listeria can cross the placenta when it enters your body, it can infect your baby and cause blood poisoning, reports the American Pregnancy Association.
Misconceptions
Based on the various warnings about gorgonzola and other semi-soft and soft cheeses, many pregnant women feel they must avoid these cheeses altogether. Indeed, if these soft cheeses are made with unpasteurized milk, you should avoid them. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stipulates that you can eat soft cheeses if their labels indicate that they are pasteurized. There are pasteurized versions of some of these cheeses, including gorgonzola.
Considerations
The general wisdom regarding the consumption of soft cheeses during pregnancy seems to be to use great caution and avoid unpasteurized products. While avoiding these foods altogether would likely be the safest approach, you can enjoy pasteurized soft cheese products in moderation during your pregnancy. A simple rule of thumb would be to avoid any unpasteurized dairy products while pregnant. You should also discuss this issue with your doctor, and heed her dietary recommendations for your pregnancy.
