What to do after eating spoiled cheese while pregnant?

Question

Hi doctor,

I had some cheese that tasted off. It was new, opened, and still within its expiration date by over a week. I am 14 weeks pregnant and feeling fine. Will this cause any issues?

Please guide.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I read your query and understand your concern.

Soft cheese that can occasionally harbor Listeria monocytogenes if it becomes contaminated. However, if it is pasteurized, most store-bought varieties have a very low risk of contamination, especially if the cheese is within its expiration date and has been properly refrigerated.

The bad taste you experienced may have been due to mild spoilage or storage issues, rather than harmful bacteria.

Symptoms of Listeria infection can appear anywhere from a few hours up to 70 days after consuming contaminated food, but they typically present within one to two weeks.

Monitor for the following signs:

Fever.
Flu-like symptoms (e.g., cough, runny nose, muscle aches, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea).
Abdominal pain.
Headache or neck stiffness.

If you develop any of these symptoms in the coming days or weeks, please contact a consultant obstetrician and gynecologist.

You should conduct some baseline investigations for pregnancy, which include:

Blood group and Rh (Rhesus) factor.
Complete blood count (CBC).
Urine complete examination.
Viral markers.

I hope this information is helpful.

Please let me know if you have any further questions, and I would be happy to assist you.

Thank you.