how often does listeria happen from eating soft cheeses?

[Anonymous]

i ate a small amount of gorgonzola cheese on a salad today not knowing I am supposed to avoid this type of cheese. Now I am experiencing stomach pains. if something like this were to occur would you know right away. sorry if these are stupid questions -i'm just worried now.

[Anonymous]

Most likely, the gorgonzola is pastuerized. Feta, gorg and bleu cheeses in this country are mostly pasteurized unless they are really fancy. I asked at a couple of restaurants before I ordered salads and both times the staff checked the cheese package for me and it was in fact pastuerized.

I'm most certain you are fine, however, I have no idea what the symptoms of listeria are and how quickly they appear.

[Anonymous]

I recently had a stomach virus and when thinking backwards realized that I had eaten from a salad bar the day before at a work lunch. I immediately freaked out about Listeria and did a little research. The thing that got me down from the ledge was discovering that the incubation for Listeria is actually quite long -- at least 3 days and up to 70 days, usually occurring around 21 days. So, I doubt you've been infected with Listeria. You certainly wouldn't experience symptoms in the same day as eating the food. Also, as the PP mentioned, most blue cheeses and feta cheese in this country are pasteurized which is perfectly safe. I'll point out that a stomach bug is making the rounds. I just had it and it was over in 2 days. Feel better, OP.

[Anonymous]

All soft cheeses here are pasteurized. - it doesn't matter how "fancy" they are, whatever that means. It's illegal to import and sell unpasteurized soft cheese. You might find unpasteurized queso fresco in some small Latin markets, but you won't find unpasteurized soft cheese in the major grocery stores and restaurants. So eat as much gorgonzola as you want.

You can find some unpasteurized hard cheese like Parmesan but hard cheeses aren't a listeria risk.

[Anonymous]

Most cheeses sold at the supermarket and served in restaurants are pasteurized so the likelihood of your having eaten unpasteurized cheese is low. However you can buy unpasteurized cheeses at Whole Foods and other specialty cheese/wine shops so be sure to check labels when buying cheese.

[Anonymous]

Most cheeses sold at the supermarket and served in restaurants are pasteurized so the likelihood of your having eaten unpasteurized cheese is low. However you can buy unpasteurized cheeses at Whole Foods and other specialty cheese/wine shops so be sure to check labels when buying cheese.

You can't buy unpasteurized soft cheese at Whole Foods. All cheese in the US is required to be made from pasteurized milk OR to be aged at least 60 days (which means it's not a listeria risk). No way is Whole Foods selling illegal cheese in violation of FDA regs.

[Anonymous]

Whole Foods does adhere to the 60 day aging rule for unpasteurized cheeses. However, the FDA is currently examining whether the 60 day is sufficient to eliminate listeria risk as there have been cases where listeria has survived the 60 day aging process.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All soft cheeses here are pasteurized. - it doesn't matter how "fancy" they are, whatever that means. It's illegal to import and sell unpasteurized soft cheese. You might find unpasteurized queso fresco in some small Latin markets, but you won't find unpasteurized soft cheese in the major grocery stores and restaurants. So eat as much gorgonzola as you want.

You can find some unpasteurized hard cheese like Parmesan but hard cheeses aren't a listeria risk.

Actually, there are a LOT of unpasteurized cheeses out there - i've asked at several high end restaurants recently and have been told the cheese was unpasteurized about half the time... lots of local creameries and dairies provide these specialty fancy cheeses, so they don't need to be imported to be a listeria risk

OP, why not call the restaurant and ask?

[Anonymous]

OR call your doc/midwife, and they will tell you not to worry about it. Seriously. Don't worry about it.

[Anonymous]

Actually, there are a LOT of unpasteurized cheeses out there - i've asked at several high end restaurants recently and have been told the cheese was unpasteurized about half the time... lots of local creameries and dairies provide these specialty fancy cheeses, so they don't need to be imported to be a listeria risk

I'd be really curious to know which restaurants have said they are using unpasteurized & unaged cheese.

My understanding is that the requirement is not just for imported cheeses but that ALL cheeses sold in the US are subject to the pasteurization OR 60-day aging requirement, so it would be illegal for restaurants to sell unpasteurized, unaged cheeses that they purchased from local farms or creameries.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All soft cheeses here are pasteurized. - it doesn't matter how "fancy" they are, whatever that means. It's illegal to import and sell unpasteurized soft cheese. You might find unpasteurized queso fresco in some small Latin markets, but you won't find unpasteurized soft cheese in the major grocery stores and restaurants. So eat as much gorgonzola as you want.

You can find some unpasteurized hard cheese like Parmesan but hard cheeses aren't a listeria risk.

This is completely wrong. A local farmer makes cheese and sells it to local restaurants/stores or takes it farmer's market. This is completely legal. There was no import/export here. You need to know what you are talking about before you post info like this.

[Anonymous]

Just eat pasteurized cheese that is pre-packaged. Don't fret and just enjoy.