Handy list: these cheeses you can eat when you’re pregnant
There’s a real baby boom going on in my group of girlfriends. The upcoming expansion with mini mes is really lovely, but they were all a little taken aback when they found out what they weren’t allowed to have. Alcohol is an obvious one, of course, but there’s so much more that’s off-limits for pregnant women. The worst of all: CHEESE. These days, I sit down with them to figure out which cheeses you can and can’t eat when you’re pregnant.
Because it’s quite a job to look it all up, especially when you’re standing in the supermarket. Personally, I think giving up cheese would be even harder than skipping alcohol. Even though I think wine and cheese are a perfect combination. Fortunately, non-alcoholic wine is getting better and better, and you can make a perfectly good cheese board with the cheeses you are allowed to eat.
Make a pregnant-proof cheese board with these cheeses
Brie and camembert
YES, these soft French cheeses are generally fine. It’s always important to check the label, though. In this case, no news is good news, because that means it’s safe to eat when you’re pregnant. If it says ‘made from raw milk’ or ‘au lait cru’, then it’s a no-go, but they’re required to state this on the label if that’s the case. Also fine: Munster and Taleggio.
Goat cheese
Oooh, delicious on a cheese board or in a sandwich. Warm it up a little, add honey and walnuts… I would genuinely miss that if I were expecting. But don’t worry, because this is completely fine to eat.
Dutch farmhouse cheese
The reason you’re not allowed to eat some cheeses is the Listeria bacteria, which can occur in raw milk and therefore in raw-milk cheeses. Dutch farmhouse cheese is made from raw milk, but it’s also very dry and hard: Madame Listeria doesn’t like that, so this cheese is good to go too.
Parmigiano and Pecorino
I don’t really put this on my cheese board very often (although it can be quite tasty), but with many dishes it really is the finishing touch. Other hard cheeses such as Cheddar, Gruyère and Emmentaler are fine too.
Manchego
One of my personal favourite cheeses, because honestly: Manchego is pure enjoyment, isn’t it? Ideally with some Spanish sunshine, of course, but it tastes absolutely delicious in the Netherlands too.
Roquefort and Gorgonzola
Some people can’t stand these cheeses anyway, whether they’re pregnant or not. I really don’t have a problem with that—in fact, I don’t even think they smell bad. Delicious, those blue cheeses. On crackers, pizza or simply on their own. You can wake me up for them.
Mozzarella
Mozzarella is also safe to eat in the Netherlands when you’re pregnant—unless it’s a fresh version from a speciality shop, in which case, don’t. Supermarket versions are no problem. This cheese has been heated sufficiently, so there’s no risk of Listeria contamination. Of course, the same applies to all cheeses: if you’re abroad, check just to be sure. But a salad with burrata is perfectly fine. YES.
Spreadable cheeses
Personally, I wouldn’t put these on a cheese board, but hey, everyone has their own preferences. Processed cheese spread, cream cheese and cottage cheese are safe when you’re pregnant, so you can enjoy them without worry.
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