When it comes to the health and wellbeing of expecting mothers and their unborn child, it is important to take into consideration the types of food they should and should not be eating. One type of cheese that often comes into question is gorgonzola. Gorgonzola is a type of blue cheese that has a strong flavor and a crumbly texture, due to the mold content. As it is made from cow’s milk, it is important to consider if it is safe to eat during pregnancy. In this blog post, we will discuss the important considerations to take into account when it comes to eating gorgonzola when pregnant. We will look at the safety concerns and whether or not it should be consumed by expecting mothers at all.
Is Heated or Cooked Gorgonzola Safe During Pregnancy?
Gorgonzola that has been heated or cooked is safe to consume while expecting as long as the cheese is heated all the way through.
This means that as long as the gorgonzola has been heated to around 160 degrees Fahrenheit (around 72c), any dangerous bacteria in the food will have been killed and it will therefore be safe to eat (Source: HealthLink).
Just be aware that the mold tends to separate from the cheese when it is heated, but there ARE some dishes where hot Gorgonzola can still be tasty, even if it doesn’t look appealing!
If Gorgonzola isn’t the only blue cheese you want to try while pregnant, we also have a comprehensive guide to blue cheese for expectant mothers that includes dips, dressings, and other options.
Here are some popular dishes made with gorgonzola and information on whether you can eat them while pregnant:
Gorgonzola Sauce During Pregnancy
You can find gorgonzola sauce on steaks and over vegetables. Typically, gorgonzola is only partially melted over low heat, and as a result, has not been sufficiently heated to be safe for consumption during pregnancy.
The Gorgonzola sauce is okay, though, if it is thoroughly heated and served hot. If in doubt, ask the restaurant or provider.
If you purchase gorgonzola sauce that has been prepared commercially, checking to see if it is stored on a shelf will reveal whether it has been pasteurized. Shelf sauces are pasteurized so that they don’t require refrigeration.
Gorgonzola sauce that has been “freshly made” in a refrigerator should be avoided because listeria and other bacteria are more likely to survive even when kept cold. Heating the sauce makes it safe, whether pasteurized or not.
Gorgonzola with a salad
Despite the fact that salads are a safe pregnancy food, eating Gorgonzola cheese in a salad is not advised because the cheese is frequently served cold and is frequently not cooked to a high temperature.
Although this will produce a gooey texture that is probably not that pleasant on a salad, the cheese is safe to eat if it is served steaming hot on top of a salad.
Baked Gorgonzola
Gorgonzola that has been baked is safe to eat as long as it is served hot.
Any type of baked cheese, including gorgonzola baked inside puff pastry, pies, and quiches, is typically baked at 350 degrees Fahrenheit (177 degrees Celsius). If consumed hot and fresh, they are all safe to consume while pregnant.
Gorgonzola on top of pizza
One of the many pizza toppings that are safe for pregnant women to consume if they have been cooked at high temperatures is gorgonzola.
Pizza is typically prepared at extremely high temperatures in pizza ovens, so as long as it is served steaming hot, it will be safe to consume.
You can learn more about this in our pregnancy guide to pizza. The only thing to watch out for is whether the cheese is simply melted rather than cooked.
Gorgonzola ravioli or pasta when pregnant
Depending on how hot the filling is, gorgonzola-stuffed ravioli or other foods may or may not be safe to consume.
Before stuffing your ravioli or another type of pasta, simply heat the gorgonzola until it is piping hot if you are making your own.
The gorgonzola, however, won’t typically have been heated to a temperature high enough for you to be certain it is safe to eat if you are in a restaurant. To be safe, inquire at the restaurant before placing your order.
Gorgonzola gnocchi
Gorgonzola gnocchi are usually gnocchi in a gorgonzola sauce.
Check with the restaurant, as you would with the other foods listed above, to see if the cheese sauce has been heated to a sizzling point rather than just warmed through.
If in doubt, choose a different dish. Naturally, if you are making this at home, you can heat your cheese sauce until it is piping hot and know that it will be okay to eat at that point.
When soft cheeses were linked to an outbreak of listeriosis, a disease brought on by the listeria bacterium, in the 1980s, they first raised concerns. According to Elliot T. Ryser and Elmer H. The most significant listeriosis outbreak, according to Marth in their book “Listeria, Listerosis, and Food Safety,” took place in Los Angeles in 1985. In the eight-month-long outbreak, there were 142 cases of listeriosis, 93 of which were in pregnant women. The fatality rate was 32% among expectant mothers. All of these were fetal deaths or neonatal deaths. Ryser and Marth noted that a particular soft cheese made in Mexico was thought to be the culprit.
According to Baby Center, the use of unpasteurized milk in the manufacture of cheese is responsible for the association between listeria infection and soft cheeses. Unpasteurized milk, also referred to as “raw” milk, may contain the listeria monocytogenes bacterium as well as other disease-causing organisms. According to Baby Center, pregnant women have a more than 20-fold increased risk of contracting listeria compared to other adults. Since any unpasteurized dairy product can contain this bacteria in addition to others, you should also avoid unpasteurized milk and any other dairy products made from it.
If you’re expecting, you probably want to take all possible precautions to ensure the health of your unborn child, which includes watching what you eat. Although cheese is a good source of calcium and protein, some soft and semi-soft cheeses, such as gorgonzola, can be harmful to an unborn child. Consult your physician regarding the dangers of soft cheeses and which varieties to avoid while pregnant.
Listeria affects pregnant women more frequently than the general population, possibly because a pregnant woman’s immune system is somewhat weakened. A flu-like illness with fever, muscle aches, and stomach discomfort, including diarrhea, can be brought on by listeriosis. It may result in headaches, stiff necks, confusion, unstable balance, or seizures if the infection affects the nervous system. If you suspect listeriosis, call your doctor right away. Antibiotics can treat the infection.
Many pregnant women believe they must completely avoid gorgonzola and other semi-soft and soft cheeses due to the numerous warnings about these cheeses. But if the labels for soft cheeses state that they have been pasteurized, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises against eating them. Some of these cheeses, like gorgonzola, are available in pasteurized form.
Learn whether eating gorgonzola cheese while pregnant is safe, as well as what to watch out for to keep both you and your unborn child healthy.
Your browser cannot play this video. I consent to Netmums processing my sensitive personal data in order to send me pregnancy newsletters, including: Are you the parent(s), partner(s), grandparent(s), or surrogate? If you would like to receive news, offers, and information from our dependable and carefully chosen partners, please check the box.
This page contains affiliate links, which means that if a reader clicks through and purchases something, we may receive a small commission. The editorial staff at Netmums has written all of our articles and reviews on their own. https://www. netmums. com/esi/video/false/position:MTF_content.
FAQ
Is gorgonzola a pasteurized cheese?
Can I eat blue cheese while pregnant?
What cheeses to avoid pregnant?
Is it safe to eat gorgonzola?
It is a further advantage because milk proteins (casein and whey) contain all essential amino acids that your body cannot produce, and you get them through foods. Since Gorgonzola cheese contains milk proteins, it is an excellent source of healthy proteins for you.