Gorgonzola cheese and pregnancy. Pregnancy and its Relationship with Gorgonzola Cheese: Years of History.Taking care of food during pregnancy is a priority. Surely you have heard that some foods are capable of harming the future baby and today we will help you understand everything about one of the most dangerous: cheese.
Not all cheeses produce diseases in pregnant women, pathologies are only caused by soft cheeses which are usually reservoirs of bacteria for a long time. Gorgonzola cheese is an Italian cheese full of flavor but it is within the controversy about whether or not it is healthy to eat it during the pregnancy period.
The History of Gorgonzola Cheese
In 1980, soft cheeses brought concern to society due to the disease called Listeriosis. Los Angeles was the most important focus of Listeriosis during 1985 and was the one who gave way to think that there was a close relationship between cheeses, listeriosis and its incidence in pregnant women.
Most of the deaths were fetal because the fever episodes were too intense for the future baby to endure. After many studies, it was determined that cheeses produced with unpasteurized dairy products were responsible for the development of listeria bacteria and that pregnant women who consumed these cheeses tended to have more than a 70% chance of suffering from Listeriosis.
The opinion of the general public about the consumption of soft cheeses has been changing until it is at two extremes. Either it is thought that pregnant women can eat soft cheeses in low amounts or it is thought that no portion of soft cheese should be eaten until after giving birth.
Although avoiding cheeses made with unpasteurized dairy is the best decision, it does not mean that you can not consume those soft cheeses that have gone through the process of eliminating bacteria. The golden rule is to avoid consuming products that are made with raw milk as they can be harmful to the health of the pregnant woman.
Gorgonzola Cheese During Pregnancy
In Italy, different types of cheese abound. Gorgonzola is one of the most beloved cheeses in this region and has spread around the world. It is an Italian blue cheese which is made with pasteurized cow’s milk without skimming. Experts classify them as a blue cheese of soft paste and it is an object of study for cases of listeriosis contagion in pregnant women.
Why? Gorgonzola cheese and pregnancy
Gorgonzola cheese is NOT safe to eat during pregnancy because it is a quintessential soft cheese and is a common reservoir for listeria bacteria. Although it is sometimes made with pasteurized milk, it is still a very wet cheese that gives rise to more bacteria, apart from Listeria, growing inside it.
Blue gorgonzola cheese is considered to be one of the most humid soft cheeses on the market. On its own, it leads to a high risk of listeriosis because according to studies, at least 60% of the samples of this cheese usually have the presence of listeria.
It is much more frequent to see listeria in gorgonzola cheeses that are close to ending their shelf life. Therefore, we suggest you always check the date of all products to avoid consuming something that is expired. Honestly, the only way to consume gorgonzola cheese and minimize, in a way, the possibility of contracting listeriosis is by cooking the cheese since listeria is sensitive to heat.
Freezing cheese is not a safe way to eliminate bacteria as it is proven that listeria grows even under refrigeration.
Is gorgonzola cheese pasteurized or not?
The common and in accordance with the sanitary rules, is that gorgonzola cheese is made with pasteurized milk. Still, that doesn’t mean it’s safe to eat during the gestation period. The real danger of gorgonzola cheese is that it contains a high degree of moisture that gives way to the growth of many other bacteria that can be harmful to the fetus.
Once the cheese is made, the moisture gives the bacteria the perfect space to grow and then, when the pregnant woman consumes the cheese, they proliferate throughout the body. In addition, it is proven that listeria can grow under refrigeration.
Gorgonzola cheeses that are not made with pasteurized milk are those 100% artisanal.
Symptoms of Listeriosis
Some of the symptoms that women may experience during listeriosis are a product of the weakness that the bacteria causes in the immune system. Pregnant women are a high-risk population since, in itself due to pregnancy, the immune system is very overloaded and lowers its defense levels which makes the mother’s body more susceptible to listeriosis.
Some of the common symptoms are malaise, similar to that of the flu, body aches, especially muscle pain, upset stomach and even diarrhea. There are women who experience headaches along with stiff neck as well as periods of confusion and seizures. The most worrying symptom in listeriosis is fever as it can compromise the life of the fetus if it reaches very high temperatures.
Gorgonzola Heated or cooked?
If you are really a big fan of this cheese and you can not stop consuming it, we suggest you avoid it in large quantities. Eating it only once a week is more than enough and only in a small portion. Also, check that it is made with pasteurized milk.
Gorgonzola cheese is much safer to consume when you cook it enough. The cooking process makes the cheese steaming and that’s when you know you’ve eliminated the bacteria. We suggest heating it with 72°C so you have the total confidence that you have eliminated any type of bacteria harmful to the body.
Gorgonzola cheese can put your pregnancy at risk Remember to respect safety measures!
Read also:Burrata Cheese During Pregnancy; Grana Padano Cheese During Pregnancy; Yes to pecorino cheese during pregnancy?; Does oatmeal raise triglycerides?
External resource: Wikipedia
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