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What Are The Chances Of Listeria Contraction During Pregnancy?
Question: I ate goat cheese on my burger . I am pregnant and just read that it can carry listeria ? Should I be concerned ? Thanks!
Brief Answer:
Listeria is a rare disease, and it is unlikley that you were even exposed
Detailed Answer:
Hello, and I hope I can help you today
Listeria is a kind of bacteria that is actually present in the environment in soil, water, and on certain plants. It can be a contaminant in foods that are not cooked thoroughly or served hot, like raw cheeses, deli meats, smoked fish and pate.
In the US however, most cheeses are made from pasteurized milk, which means the milk has been boiled prior to making the cheese. This means that all the bacteria in the milk is sterilized before packaging. Therefore, it is truly unusual to have Listeria contaminated cheese in the US unless you eat cheese that is directly imported from outside the US and made from non-pasteurized milk.
In commercial restaurants, it is unlikely that they would be using any form of meat or cheese that is not passed US health and inspection standards. Therefore it is extremely unlikely that you would even be exposed to Listeria in goat cheese that was made in the USA.
So in summary, it is very unlikely you were exposed to Listeria and I do not think you need to be concerned at this point. For the future, avoiding smoked deli meats and fish and any cheese that is imported from outside the United States or labeled "raw milk" or "unpasteurized" should protect you thoroughly from Listeria. I want to reemphasize that even these types of foods are rarely contaminated with Listeria when kept in appropriate refrigerated conditions.
I hope that I was able to adequately answer your question today, and that this information was reassuring. If you need anything further, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Best wishes for the rest of the pregnancy,
Dr. Brown
Listeria is a rare disease, and it is unlikley that you were even exposed
Detailed Answer:
Hello, and I hope I can help you today
Listeria is a kind of bacteria that is actually present in the environment in soil, water, and on certain plants. It can be a contaminant in foods that are not cooked thoroughly or served hot, like raw cheeses, deli meats, smoked fish and pate.
In the US however, most cheeses are made from pasteurized milk, which means the milk has been boiled prior to making the cheese. This means that all the bacteria in the milk is sterilized before packaging. Therefore, it is truly unusual to have Listeria contaminated cheese in the US unless you eat cheese that is directly imported from outside the US and made from non-pasteurized milk.
In commercial restaurants, it is unlikely that they would be using any form of meat or cheese that is not passed US health and inspection standards. Therefore it is extremely unlikely that you would even be exposed to Listeria in goat cheese that was made in the USA.
So in summary, it is very unlikely you were exposed to Listeria and I do not think you need to be concerned at this point. For the future, avoiding smoked deli meats and fish and any cheese that is imported from outside the United States or labeled "raw milk" or "unpasteurized" should protect you thoroughly from Listeria. I want to reemphasize that even these types of foods are rarely contaminated with Listeria when kept in appropriate refrigerated conditions.
I hope that I was able to adequately answer your question today, and that this information was reassuring. If you need anything further, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Best wishes for the rest of the pregnancy,
Dr. Brown
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Answered by
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