Danger from raw milk cheese and listeria during pregnancy?

No cheese from raw milk in pregnancy ?

Information on “No raw milk products during pregnancy”

Especially during pregnancy one thing is of great importance – a balanced and healthy diet. During this time, the pregnant woman must not only take care of her own body, but also of the child’s body and its nutrients. Through food there is always the danger of transmitting pathogens to the unborn child. Therefore, this general recommendation is to avoid raw milk and raw milk products – simply to keep this risk as low as possible.

Raw milk from the farmer
Raw milk from the farmer

Distinction between pasteurised milk and untreated raw milk

We are often asked about this topic, because family planning is probably the topic of everyone’s life and the enjoyment of cheese is also part of the quality of life for many people.

The big difference is the heating. In contrast to pasteurised milk, raw milk for raw milk cheese is heated to a maximum of 40 °C. The temperature of raw milk for raw milk cheese is also 40 °C. Microorganisms in the milk are not killed at these temperatures, so that the raw milk cheese can also contain these undesirable bacteria. The exception here is long matured hard cheese. Due to the long maturing period, this cheese no longer contains any undesirable microorganisms.

Without exception raw milk cheese at Alpen Sepp

One of the open secrets for the high enjoyment factor of our Alpine cheese are the active, living microorganisms in the raw milk. Only with this “liveliness” is it possible to create this incredible taste. For this reason, some of our alpine dairies completely dispense with any additional heating and thus create true cheese dreams.

At the same time, however, this is associated with a significantly higher effort in cheese making, as our Alpine cheese remains a natural product for which there are no constant factors. The raw milk alone is a completely different product depending on the season. The alpine dairyman has to take all this into account and thus creates something unbelievable. Cost-reducing automation is not possible under these conditions, so our cheese remains a craft.

Pasteurisation would greatly simplify all this and at the same time ruin the well-known high cheese enjoyment. Therefore NO to pasteurization!

What danger does raw milk cheese pose for pregnant women?

As raw milk for raw milk cheese is heated only slightly, it may contain pathogens such as ‘listeria’, which are killed by the usual heating of pasteurisation above 70 °C. The pasteurisation process is carried out at a temperature of 70 °C or more. Healthy people are usually not harmed by these pathogens. However, they can become a problem for pregnant women, infants or sick people. The infectious disease listeriosis is caused by listeria, which leads to flu-like symptoms, fatigue and poor performance.

During pregnancy, infection with listeriosis can lead to premature birth or even death. In addition, listeria can be transmitted to the child and lead to inflammation of the brain and cerebral membrane, which can lead to mental and physical disabilities. In addition to listeria, Escherichia coli bacteria, salmonella or tuberculosis bacteria can also occur in raw milk and its products, which can also be harmful to the child.

Medical doctors therefore recommend in general that pregnant women should therefore avoid raw milk and raw milk products.

Mountain cheese - no problem during pregnancy!
Mountain cheese – no problem during pregnancy!

Women in pregnancy and Alpine cheese from Alpen Sepp

Ultimately, it remains for the pregnant woman to decide whether she accepts the residual risk of a natural product. If the cheese enjoyment is reduced to long matured mountain cheese, it is practically impossible that it can come to an infection by listeria, especially if the cheese rind itself is not eaten. Nevertheless, our cheese is and remains a natural product.

Highest standard for absolute minimization of danger from listeria

  • Highest food hygiene guidelines for contact with food – continuous hand cleaning during cheese washing, cheese storage and cheese handling.
  • Listeria are possible during cheese production and multiply on the cheese rind. Fortunately, our dairy has had no problems with listeria so far, but controls are carried out continuously and the highest standards are applied in order to reduce the risk of listeria to a minimum.
  • Toxoplasmosis is not possible with our alpine cheese. This is a hygiene issue in meat production and is mainly associated with cats and cat droppings.

Our recommendation for your cheese enjoyment also during pregnancy

  • Prefer hard cheeses such as our varieties of mountain cheese – mild mountain cheese (4 months) or spicy mountain cheese (8 months, 12 months and 16 months) – these are harmless.
  • If a pregnant woman has any personal concerns, we recommend that she refrain from using cheese made from raw milk during pregnancy. Choose a cheese made from pasteurised milk, even if it means an enormous loss of cheese enjoyment.
  • Cut off the rind before eating. If listeria is present, then on the cheese rind.
  • Grate the cheese yourself, just before eating.
  • Order individually vacuumed pieces of cheese (200 – 300 grams).
  • Pay attention to your own cleanliness in the kitchen and hygiene when processing and storing food. Do not forget to wash your hands!

Mountain cheese from Alpen Sepp – cheese enjoyment without hesitation for pregnant women!

OLD HARD CHEESE
HARD CHEESE
HARD CHEESE
  HARD
CHEESE 
For you!
HARD CHEESE
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