Why can’t you eat soft cheese during pregnancy?

So pickles and ice cream are okay, but soft cheese is a problem? That doesn’t seem to make a great deal of sense, does it? It’s really all about Listeria monocytogenes. This bacterium is found in raw, unpasteurized milk and any cheeses or other dairy products made from it. It can cause a potentially deadly disease called listeriosis.

Listeriosis usually isn’t a big problem in healthy individuals, but pregnancy makes you more vulnerable. This bacteria is about seventeen times more likely to cause an infection in pregnant women than in the normal population. Listeriosis usually only causes mild “flulike” symptoms but the real problem lies in the fact that it can be transferred across the placenta and harm the baby. Listeria during pregnancy can cause miscarriage, premature rupture of membranes, premature birth, and very serous infections in newborns including meningitis.

But don’t freak out if you are pregnant and mistakenly chow down some fresh mozzarella. Listeiosis is relatively rare.

Enter your search terms Submit search form

Next: Why do some people sweat excessively?
Previous: Why shouldn’t pregnant women dye their hair?
"Why can’t you eat soft cheese during pregnancy?" was posted on Friday, January 25th, 2008 at 3:27 am.