The importance of proper nutrition during pregnancy cannot be understated. Unsurprisingly, expecting mothers want to ensure that they are making the right food choices to support the healthy growth and development of their baby. However, some foods (including cheese) may pose a risk to the health of both the mother and their unborn baby. In this post, we will explore the safety of eating Fior di Latte cheese while pregnant.
SEE ALSO: Our complete guide to which cheeses you can eat during pregnancy →
Why are some foods unsafe during pregnancy?
Certain foods can increase the risk of foodborne illnesses, which can have severe consequences during pregnancy. Indeed, pregnant women are more vulnerable to food poisoning, as changes in their immune system can make them more susceptible to infections.
Additionally, some infections can harm the developing foetus and lead to complications such as premature birth, stillbirth or neurological damage.
One such infection is Listeriosis, and it can cause symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, nausea and diarrhoea. In rare cases, it can cause blood poisoning (septicaemia) and inflammation of the outside of the brain (meningitis).
While the symptoms tend to be mild in most affected people, it can be more severe and, sometimes, life-threatening in pregnant women and their unborn babies.
What foods are high-risk when you’re pregnant?
High-risk foods include raw or undercooked meats, eggs and seafood. And unpasteurised dairy products and soft white mould cheeses. These foods may contain harmful bacteria such as Listeria, Salmonella, and E. coli, which can cause severe food poisoning.
You can read more about which cheeses to avoid during pregnancy here.
What type of cheese is Fior di Latte?
Fior di Latte is a fresh pasta filata cheese that originates from Agerola, on Italy’s Amalfi Coast. Unsurprisingly, people often confuse this cheese with the more popular, Mozzarella.
While they both find their roots in the Campania region of southern Italy, they differ in one very important manner. Fior di Latte is traditionally made using exclusively cow’s milk whereas Mozzarella is made with buffalo milk. While most brands of both cheeses are pasteurised, you might find small-batch artisanal raw milk versions in Italy.
You can read more about the differences between Fior di Latte and Mozzarella here.
Is Fior di Latte safe to eat if you’re pregnant?
Since it does not have a bloomy rind, Fior di Latte is usually deemed safe to consume during pregnancy. However, the only exception to this rule is for raw milk Fior di Latte.
Overall, the authorities in Australia, New Zealand and the USA advise against the consumption of unaged cheeses that are made with unpasteurised milk. Hence, raw milk Fior di Latte is not recommended during pregnancy. The main reason for this is the potential increased risk of Listeria.
Can you eat cooked raw milk Fior di Latte during pregnancy?
This is where it gets interesting. Thoroughly cooking any type of cheese until steaming hot will effectively destroy any harmful pathogens that may be present. Indeed, most harmful bacteria like Listeria do not survive temperatures above 75°C/165°F.
What does all this mean? Well, if you are unsure whether the Fior di Latte you’ve bought is made with raw or pasteurised milk, you can cook it to definitely render it safe. Some great dishes you can use this cheese in include pizza, grilled cheese sandwiches and nachos.
Conclusion: Safe if pasteurised and/or cooked
In conclusion, Fior di latte cheese made from pasteurised milk is safe to eat during pregnancy. However, pregnant women should avoid consuming unaged cheeses made from raw milk to reduce the risk of foodborne illness.
If you are unsure whether the cheese is made from pasteurised or raw milk, it is best to err on the side of caution and avoid it. Remember, making healthy food choices during pregnancy is essential for the health and well-being of both the mother and the baby.
Having said that, you can certainly cook a delicious meal with any unpasteurised cheese to make it safer. What are your favourite Fior di Latte or Mozzarella recipes? Let me know in the comments below.
References
Safety in Pregnancy
All the advice relating to what cheeses you can eat during pregnancy in this article is based on the recommendations by health authorities in Australia, the UK and the USA. If you are unsure about what you can or cannot eat, please consult your doctor.
Australia – FSANZ, United Kingdom – NHS and United Sates of America – FDA
Nutritional content
The nutritional content of cheese in our table comes from the USDA Food Data Central Repository and cheese manufacturers. We realise that there can be variations between different brands and producers. Hence, the numbers we have used are averages.
Fat
Our fat RDI data comes from Cleveland Clinic’s Healthy Fat Intake resource.
Type of fat in cheese as per Harvard T.H. Chan’s The Nutrition Source.
Protein
Our protein RDI data comes from Harvard Medical School’s Harvard Health Publishing.
Sabine is the creative force behind Cheese Scientist. She is a sustainable living advocate, a climate change protestor and is pro-choice. And, most relevantly, she is also a lactose intolerant cheese lover.
