Can you eat parmesan while pregnant

Eating well in pregnancy | Ready Steady Baby!

Eating a diet of different groups of foods is the best way for you to stay healthy, and help your baby grow and develop.

Importance of eating well in pregnancy

Having a good diet and being active will:

• increase your chances of becoming pregnant
• improve the likelihood of having a healthy baby
• reduce the risk of complications
• make your recovery and healing easier after the birth

Sometimes cost can be a barrier to eating healthily. The Scottish Government has a range of support available to help people with the cost of living.

Read more about the support to available to help with the cost of living

What eating well means

Eating well means:

• eating more healthy foods containing folic acid, iron and iodine
• limiting intake of high fat and high sugar foods
• taking vitamin supplements containing vitamin D
• drinking lots of fluids but only small amounts of caffeine
• not drinking alcohol at all
• taking care how you prepare and store food

How to eat a healthy balanced diet

Best start foods

As well as your free vitamins, you could be eligible for a Best Start Foods payment card to help you buy some food basics, including milk and fruit and vegetables.

More about Best Start Foods

Dieting

Dieting to lose weight in pregnancy isn't recommended, even if you're overweight to begin with.

Some weight gain in pregnancy is normal and includes the weight of your baby, the placenta and amniotic fluid.

Cravings

Some foods taste different as your sense of taste can change when you’re pregnant. This is caused by hormonal changes in your body.

You might find you can’t eat foods you used to enjoy or crave them if they start to taste better. If you're craving high-fat or high-sugar foods, try to limit them and eat regular balanced meals and healthy snacks instead.

Food to avoid

To reduce the chance of harming yourself or your baby, you should avoid certain foods.

Some dairy

You should avoid eating:

• unpasteurised semi-hard and soft cheeses (unless cooked until steaming hot)
• all mould-ripened soft cheeses with a white coating on the outside, such as brie, camembert and chèvre (unless cooked until steaming hot)
• soft blue cheeses such as Danish Blue, Gorgonzola and Roquefort (unless cooked until steaming hot)
• any unpasteurised cow’s, goat’s or sheep’s milk or cream

Liver and pâté

Liver and liver products such as pâté or liver sausage can have large amounts of vitamin A. This can be harmful for your baby. All types of pâté, including vegetable versions, can have listeria in them. It’s best to avoid them.

Some fish

Do not eat swordfish, marlin, shark or raw shellfish.

Do not eat smoked fish products, including smoked salmon and smoked trout, unless thoroughly cooked as they can present a risk of Listeria. This includes in sushi.

Some meats

You should not eat game meat, such as hare, partridge or pheasant due to the presence of lead. You should also not eat raw or rare meat as this can cause food poisoning.

Always make sure any meat you eat is well cooked and steaming hot all the way through. You should not be able to see any pink meat and the juices should run clear.

Too much oily fish or tuna

Try not to have more than two portions of oily fish a week. Oily fish includes mackerel, sardines and trout.

Tuna is not classed as an oily fish, but do not eat more than two tuna steaks (about 140g cooked or 170g when raw) or four medium-size cans of tuna (about 140g when drained) per week.

Sprouted seeds

These need to be cooked well until they are hot throughout to make sure they do not make you ill.

Unwashed fruit and vegetables

Be careful with fruits, vegetables and salads as they can have soil on them, which can make you unwell. Make sure to thoroughly wash all fruits, vegetables and salad ingredients.

Safe foods

During pregnancy it's safe to eat:

• cooked fish
• sushi, but only if the fish has been cooked thoroughly
• seafood/shellfish as long as it has been cooked, for example mussels, lobster, crab, oysters, scallops, clams and cold, pre-cooked prawns
• Peanuts and other nuts (unless you're allergic) - eating nuts when pregnant will not affect whether or not your baby has a peanut allergy
• spicy food - there's no reason to avoid spicy foods
• honey - it's ok for you to eat honey, but you should not give it to your baby until they're over a year old

Dairy foods

You're safe to eat some milk and dairy foods, including:

• All hard cheeses, such as cheddar, Parmesan or Gruyere
• Pasteurised semi-hard and soft cheeses, such as cottage cheese, mozzarella, feta, paneer, ricotta, halloumi, cream cheese, cheese spreads, or goat's cheese without a white coating on the outside (rind)
• Any cheese that has been thoroughly cooked until steaming hot
• Pasteurised milk and yoghurt

Pasteurised cream and ice cream are safe, but are not considered 'dairy' by The Eatwell Guide and have high sugar and fat content.

Eggs

You can eat runny or even raw eggs as long as they are pasteurised, or have the British Lion Code mark on them, or are Laid in Britain (LIB) eggs.

Foods made with these eggs are also safe to eat. This includes:

• mayonnaise
• ice cream
• salad dressing
• mousse

Make sure that duck, goose and quail eggs are thoroughly cooked.

If you’re eating out and not sure if they use British Lion Code or Laid in Britain eggs, ask the staff to find out for you.

Healthy drinks

Aim to have 6 to 8 200ml glasses of water or other fluids every day, and:

• try different kinds of drinks, such as sugar-free squash, decaf tea and coffee, fizzy water, fruit juice or smoothies
• limit fruit juice or smoothies to 150 ml per day with meals to help to prevent damage to your teeth

Decaffeinated coffee and tea are safe to drink during pregnancy.

Do not drink alcohol during pregnancy.

Water

Drink plenty of water when you’re pregnant to keep hydrated and stop you getting constipated, especially in your last 3 months.

You should boil water before you drink it if you get your drinking water from a private supply, such as a well, borehole or spring. The quality of water from private supplies can vary a lot and when it’s poor it can cause health problems.

Herbal drinks

During pregnancy you should:

• have no more than 4 cups of herbal or green tea a day as there isn't enough evidence about their effect on developing babies
• avoid teas that contain ginseng or echinacea as doctors aren’t sure what effects they might have when you’re pregnant or breastfeeding

Talk to your midwife if you’re unsure about using any herbal products.

Caffeine

Caffeine's found naturally in chocolate, coffee and tea (including green tea). It’s also added to some:

• soft drinks
• energy drinks
• cold and flu remedies

Having too much caffeine when you’re pregnant can:

• increase your risk of miscarriage
• affect how your baby grows
• cause your baby to be small and underweight - this can lead to health problems later in life

If you have too much caffeine, your baby can start to withdraw from it when they're born. This makes them irritable.

How much caffeine's safe?

While you’re pregnant it’s important to have no more than 200mg of caffeine a day.

Further information, other languages and alternative formats

Translations and alternative formats of this information are available from Public Health Scotland.

Can Pregnant Women Eat Parmesan Cheese? Is it Safe?

Last Updated on September 22, 2021

Cheese has to be one of the most confusing aspects of eating food safely in pregnancy, because there’s no one-rule-fits-all. Parmesan cheese still gets queried a lot, because it CAN be unpasteurized. But does that automatically mean it’s unsafe in pregnancy?

Can Pregnant Women Eat Parmesan? Traditional Parmigiano Reggiano is an unpasteurized, hard cheese from Italy. This parmesan is safe in pregnancy due to its low water content. However, some cheeses can still be called “parmesan” and are made differently, in other countries.

Parmesan is both delicious and versatile, and I know many of you will want to know if you can continue eating it during pregnancy. To try and remove some of the gray areas, I’ve listed common pregnancy-safe brands in this article, plus dishes that contain parmesan and whether they’re OK or not.

Covered in this Article:

Is Parmesan Cheese made with Pasteurized Milk?

First, you ought to know that there are two types of parmesan. One is the classic, protected Italian cheese, and the other is generic. Both get referred to as ‘parmesan’, but they’re quite different.

First, there’s the “real” parmesan – its full name is Parmigiano Reggiano and it will always carry the full name on the label and the rind. It can only be made in certain regions of Italy, and only to a certain recipe and standard. It’s got a PDO (Protected Designation of Origin).

Parmigiano-Reggiano is always made with unpasteurized milk, BUT it’s still safe when you’re pregnant. This is because it’s a hard cheese, aged for a minimum of 12 months, and can be aged for much longer. It has a low moisture content, which makes it very difficult for pathogens like listeria to survive in it.

Then there’s “generic” parmesan, which is common in the US and other countries outside Europe. It will either be called “parmesan” or “Reggiano” on the label. Generic parmesan can be made with unpasteurized or pasteurized milk. Both are safe in pregnancy, because of the hard texture of the cheese, and its minimum aging criteria.

A 1990 study deliberately introduced listeria into parmesan in a lab, to see how the bacteria would survive. As the cheese ripened (and dried out), listeria counts lowered to the point of being undetectable after several weeks (source: PubMed). The conclusion was that listeria doesn’t survive very well in parmesan.

Additionally, the FDA considers parmesan as food that “does not support the growth” of listeria, either (source: FDA). In the United States, all unpasteurized milk cheeses, like generic parmesan, have to be aged more than 60 days by law. This means it’s highly unlikely for listeria to survive in it.

Can Pregnant Women only eat Cooked Parmesan?

Parmesan – real or generic – is so unlikely to contain listeria that pregnant women can safely eat it cold, uncooked, or sliced straight out of the packet (or cheese wheel). This is the case, even if it’s made with unpasteurized milk, due to its low moisture content and hard texture.

Most hard cheeses can be eaten uncooked in pregnancy for the same reasons. Softer cheeses, however, need to be either made with pasteurized milk, or be fully cooked. If you’re a cheese fiend like me, you might find this ultimate list of safe pregnancy cheeses useful!

Is Aged Parmesan OK in Pregnancy?

Real, Parmigiano-Reggiano is aged for a minimum of 12 months, all the way up to 36 months. Generic parmesan can be aged anywhere from 10 months upwards.

Aged parmesan is not only safe in pregnancy, it’s theoretically safer, the older it is. The longer parmesan ages, the more dry and brittle it becomes, making it inhospitable to listeria and other pathogens.

That said, all parmesan is safe, at any age. It’s really a matter of taste. The older the cheese, the more expensive, but the more intense the flavor will be.

Is Mold (Mould) on Parmesan Dangerous in Pregnancy?

Real parmesan from Italy doesn’t tend to go moldy, it just dries out. Younger, generic parmesan cheeses may get mold on them over time.

Avoid mold on cheese (or any other food) when you’re pregnant. Depending on the mold and the cheese, it can cause anything from food poisoning to an upset stomach (source: USDA). Unlike mold that is deliberately added to cheese (like blue cheeses), this type of mold is not edible and should be avoided.

Because parmesan is such a hard cheese, the mold is unlikely to have penetrated very far into the cheese, and you can cut it off. However, it’s probably better to avoid any cheese that has gone bad when you’re pregnant, as sometimes it’s hard to tell how deeply the mold has penetrated into the food (source: USDA).

If you find cheese is going moldy faster than it should, check the way you’re storing food and the temperature of your fridge.

Is Grated, Shredded or Shaved Parmesan Safe When Pregnant?

So long as it’s “Parmesan”, either real or generic, it should still be safe in pregnancy no matter what form it takes. Grated and shredded parmesan is sometimes not made of parmesan at all, so check the ingredients list first. It might be called “Italian cheese” instead, which isn’t the same thing.

To stop the product clumping together, you may see other added ingredients like cellulose. These aren’t harmful, but a whole piece of parmesan won’t have such additions.

If you use a lot of parmesan in your cooking, it’s probably better to use the pure, unadulterated stuff and grate it off a single piece or block. Cross-contamination risks are also lowered because a whole block of cheese has a smaller surface area, too. In the end, it comes down to convenience and your budget.

Pregnancy-Safe Parmesan Brands

As I’ve already mentioned, all parmesan is safe when you’re pregnant.

However, I know it’s sometimes good to be reassured that your favorite brand is OK to eat. Here are some of the popular brands of parmesan, and they’re all safe to eat, cooked or uncooked, in pregnancy:

• Any parmesan labeled “Parmigiano-Reggiano” is safe. This is the genuine parmesan imported from Italy.
• Kraft
• Belgioioso
• Sartori
• iGourmet
• Any store-bought or supermarket own brand (e.g. 365, Tesco, Asda, Walmart, Trader Joe’s, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, ASDA, Publix and so on)
• Saputo
• Organic Valley
• Olio & Olive
• SarVecchio

Food Made with Parmesan and its Pregnancy Safety

Parmesan is rarely eaten on its own, of course. Here are some dishes that frequently use parmesan, and whether they’re safe in pregnancy:

• Parmesan cheese crisps or crackers – all are fine to eat when you’re pregnant
  
• Eggplant Parmesan, also called Eggplant Parmigiana – this is safe to eat in pregnancy as all the ingredients it usually contains are fine. If you’re reheating it or having leftovers, make sure it’s piping hot before enjoying it.
  
• Chicken Parmesan or Chicken Parmigiana – like eggplant parm, this is also safe to eat, but make sure the chicken is fully cooked throughout (the interior should reach 165F / 74 C, and you can measure this most accurately with a thermometer).
  
• Parmesan salad dressings – for example, parmesan peppercorn dressing, is safe in pregnancy if the other ingredients are also pregnancy-safe. Dressings sometimes contain raw egg, especially if they’re homemade, and this should be avoided when you’re pregnant (find out more about eggs here). Commercially-made dressings found on a shelf, not a fridge, are usually safe.

This article is one of many on the subject of cheese on this site. If you’re a cheese lover, you might also want to check out my ultimate list of which cheeses are safe in pregnancy.

There are also specific cheeses dealt with, such as:

• Eating fresh burrata and mozzarella if you’re pregnant
• All about Mascarpone cheese safety
• A pregnant woman’s guide to eating feta
• Whether blue cheese is safe to eat or not
• A detailed article on cheese spread and cream cheese, and
• When halloumi is safe (or not) in pregnancy, too

This article has been reviewed and approved for publication in line with our editorial policy.

the whole truth about the fermented milk product

Pregnant women try to monitor their diet and include healthy foods containing a variety of vitamins and trace elements in their diet. Cheese is one such product. However, future mothers do not even realize that some types of cheese should not be eaten during pregnancy.

Natalya Chebakova

legion-media

Fermented milk products, which include cheese, are a source of calcium and protein, which is so necessary for mother and child during pregnancy. However, you need to be careful with some types of cheese.

Contents of the article

Do not self-medicate! In our articles, we collect the latest scientific data and the opinions of authoritative health experts. But remember: only a doctor can diagnose and prescribe treatment.

Can pregnant women eat cheese?

Most cheeses can be eaten during pregnancy. Hard cheeses such as cheddar and parmesan, as well as soft pasteurized cheeses, are safe in moderation.

Pasteurization is the heating of milk to a certain temperature to kill potentially dangerous bacteria.

Cheese is a good source of calcium and protein, which strengthen bones and promote healthy growth of the baby in the womb.

A slice of cheese, along with whole grain crackers (or other complex carbohydrates), can help eliminate nausea, increase energy levels and mood, avoid headaches, and improve sleep.

However, you need to know the measure. Because cheese is also high in sodium and saturated fat. One serving of cheese should be 100 grams - about the size of a thumb.

Doctors recommend that pregnant women eat a total of three servings of dairy products, preferably low fat, per day, which include milk, yogurt, cottage cheese in addition to cheese.

The benefits of cheese for pregnant women

Each type of cheese has its own unique composition. Different varieties of this fermented milk product differ in the percentage of fat content and the content of nutrients.

Useful qualities common to most types of cheese:

• high protein content, which is an integral part of blood, lymph, and also participates in the formation of embryonic tissues;
• the ability to increase appetite, which is especially important in cases of toxicosis in pregnant women;
• saturation with B vitamins, which are responsible for the proper growth of the fetus, improve metabolic processes, increase the energy reserves of the body;
• high content of calcium, which strengthens bones, improves the condition of the skin, nails and hair;
• low lactose, which is not well tolerated by many people;
• beneficial effect on brain activity;
• the ability to normalize blood pressure and have a sedative effect.

Cheeses such as Poshekhonsky and Hollandsky have a high energy value, so they are best consumed during breakfast.

Cheese made from yak milk contains folic acid, the most important element in the formation of all systems and organs of the baby, which reduces the risk of neural tube defects.

Adyghe cheese has a low fat content, so it is often recommended for pregnant women who are prone to gaining excess weight.

Fatty varieties can be included in the menu during pregnancy, but they are low in vitamins E and D. These vitamins are very important for the proper development of the baby in the womb, they are involved in the formation of his skeletal system, prevent the development of intrauterine anomalies, and also reduce the risk premature births and miscarriages.

What is the best cheese for pregnancy?

1. Hard cheese such as cheddar, russian, parmesan, maasdam, gouda, edam, and cheddar are the safest choices during pregnancy.

Hard cheese contains less moisture than soft cheese, making it less likely to grow potentially harmful bacteria, even if made from unpasteurized milk.

2. Pasteurized soft cheese during pregnancy is another win-win option.

Almost all cheeses sold in retail chains are pasteurized by default. You can come across unpasteurized cheese at the farmers' market or buy imported cheese at the grocery store.

During pregnancy, it is better to buy cheeses with labels that are produced in factories inspected by Rospotrebnadzor.

Safe soft cheeses (if pasteurized) are: creamy, cottage cheese, feta, Adyghe, mascarpone and philadelphia.

3. It is safe to eat any cheese that has been heated to steam, such as on pizza. Since Listeria grows at low temperatures, and dies at high temperatures.

Cheese to avoid during pregnancy

It is recommended to avoid unpasteurized soft cheese during pregnancy. This product may contain listeria bacteria, which cause listeriosis, a dangerous disease for pregnant women.

When Listeria crosses the placenta into the amniotic fluid, the embryo becomes infected. His death can occur both in the womb and immediately after birth.

A mother, being a carrier of the disease, can infect her baby during childbirth. Among the signs of the disease that can occur in a woman, nausea, chills, and muscle pain can be distinguished.

Listeria is most often found in soft cheeses and gourmet favorite blue cheeses. To protect herself and her baby from this dangerous bacterium, a woman should not include cheese products made from milk that has not undergone pasteurization in her diet.

Pregnant women are 10 times more likely to develop listeriosis than the general population. This infection can be transmitted to the unborn child and cause miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth, or death of the newborn.

The following types of cheese should be avoided by expectant mothers:

• brie;
• danablu, savoy, dor blue, roquefort, cambonzola and others molded;
• shabishu;
• camembert;
• cheeses made from goat's and sheep's milk, not pasteurized.

Pasteurized cheese can also be contaminated with Listeria if produced in an unsanitary environment.

Processed cheeses are also not recommended for pregnant women, as they contain a lot of salt and have a high percentage of fat content.

Due to the high salt content, doctors do not advise the expectant mother to consume the Suluguni variety, as well as smoked sausage cheeses and other cheese products, which often contain preservatives and dyes.

Mozzarella and other pickled cheeses should not be eaten in large quantities.

If you are not sure if soft cheese is pasteurized, stop eating it.

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Do you like blue cheese?

Is it possible to eat cheese during pregnancy?

Cheese is a tasty and healthy product, beloved by many. That is why the statement of some doctors that any cheese is strictly forbidden to women during pregnancy can seriously spoil the mood. However, you should not despair - if you dig deeper, it turns out that everything is not so categorical. Below we will understand what are the benefits and harms of cheeses for pregnant women.

Which cheeses should be avoided during pregnancy? These are unpasteurized cheeses, which may contain Listeria monocyotogenes, the bacterium that causes listeriosis. Acute infectious disease is severe and is accompanied by chills, high fever, muscle pain, nausea and vomiting. Such a severe clinical picture can lead to a miscarriage or the development of severe pathologies in the fetus - given this, it is necessary to be extremely selective in choosing cheeses during childbearing.

The infectious bacterium lives in unpasteurized cheeses made from sheep's and goat's milk that have not undergone heat treatment. We are talking about soft types of cheese and varieties with mold: dor blue, brie, camembert, cambonzola, etc. Also at risk are cheeses with blue mold: Roquefort, Gorgonzola, Savoy cheese. Such products contain a lot of liquid and little acid, which is the most favorable environment for the development of Listeria monocyotogenes.

Why mold is harmful when carrying a child

In addition to the risk of getting sick with listeriosis, eating delicious marbled cheeses, you run the risk of experiencing all the delights of the impact on the body of "noble" mold. So, valuable blue mold, which gives cheeses such a refined taste, endows the product with a number of side qualities. Being a pure antibiotic, mold kills the beneficial microflora that inhabits the body, which can cause intestinal dysbacteriosis and disrupt the digestive tract.

An imbalance of water and lactic acid in moldy foods can lead to the growth of fungus in the body, which is also highly undesirable for a pregnant woman who is already in a vulnerable state. Given the foregoing, doctors strongly recommend abandoning "live" cheeses for the period of bearing a child.

Which cheeses are safe for pregnant women? Under the influence of high temperature and careful processing, pathogenic bacteria die, making the cheese not only tasty, but also safe. Such cheeses include: gouda, maasdam, parmesan, cheddar, Poshekhonsky, etc. - all of them will not harm a pregnant woman, since the environment favorable for the life of bacteria is destroyed during high temperature processing. Eating hard cheeses, you will get the whole range of nutrients, saturate the body with calcium and, in addition, diversify your diet with a delicious product.

There is also good news for lovers of soft cheeses: there are varieties that pregnant women can safely include in their diet. These include delicious varieties such as feta, philadelphia, mascarpone, cottage cheese, goat cheese without rind (pasteurized), processed cheeses, etc. The technology for the production of such cheeses involves heat treatment, during which bacteria die.

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