Cheese is a food obtained after having undergone a maturation process. In the case of pasteurized cheese, it has undergone heat treatment. That is, it has been made with a type of milk subjected to a special technique.
When we go to the supermarket to buy a cheese, we look at the type of cheese it is, the appearance it has or its place of origin, among other things. But we ignore a very important aspect for our health that we must take into account: whether it is a pasteurized cheese or not. .
What does it mean that a cheese is pasteurized?
A pasteurized cheese is one that has undergone a pasteurization process, i.e. a heat treatment. This process aims to kill bacteria and other microorganisms present in food that may pose a risk to our health.
What is the pasteurization process?
Every pasteurized cheese has its own process called “pasteurization process“. This is carried out by subjecting the food to high temperatures, usually above 75 degrees Celsius, for short periods of time, 15-20 seconds. It is then rapidly cooled to prevent bacteria regrowth.
This is done to prevent foodborne diseases such as salmonellosis, brucellosis or major infections caused by the bacterium listeria monocytogenes. In short, thanks to this procedure, many pathogenic and other unwanted bacteria are eliminated.
It is important to note that pasteurization does not completely eliminate all bacteria present in the cheese, but it does greatly reduce their quantity. So it can be confirmed that a pasteurized cheese may still contain some bacteria, but in such low quantities that they are not harmful to health.
Pasteurization is used in many types of cheese, including fresh cheese, grated cheese or cream cheese. Although pasteurized cheese is said to have a slightly different taste than cheese made from unpasteurized milk, it is an effective method of ensuring food safety.
How do I know if the cheese is pasteurized?
There are several ways to corroborate that a cheese, be it goat’s cheese, sheep’s cheese or any other origin, is pasteurized. The first and essential is to read the ingredients on the product label or packaging. A large part of the pasteurized cheese production will bear a mention on its label that it has been produced with pasteurized milk.
In case “pasteurized milk” does not appear among its ingredients, the best option is to dispense with that cheese and choose another one if your condition deems it appropriate, as in the case of pregnant women.
Another more convoluted, but equally effective, way to know if what we are going to buy is pasteurized cheese is to contact directly with the manufacturer or seller of the cheese in order to obtain more information about the production process.
Merina sheep’s cheese during pregnancy
You may ask,can I eat Merina sheep cheese during pregnancy ? Well, as long as we are talking about pasteurized cheese, the answer is yes.
Pregnant women can eat Merina sheep cheese during the process, as long as it is pasteurized cheese. Having undergone this pasteurization process, the possibility of the bacteria listeria monocytogenes being present is infinitely low, almost nil. Even so, we must be aware of the danger to our own and the baby’s health.
Within the world of “pasteurized cheese” there are some cheeses that, regardless of the origin of the milk, are pasteurized cheese and therefore suitable for pregnant women. Some examples are:
- Mozzarella cheese
- Provolone cheese
- Sheep cheese
- Goat cheese
- Cow cheese
On the other hand, cheeses that should be avoided during pregnancy due to the absence of heat treatment should be taken into account. Therefore, we are talking about unpasteurized cheeses :
- Parmesan cheese
- Roquefort cheese
- Cabrales cheese
In short, pasteurized Merina sheep’s milk cheese is a product with a unique flavor and texture. Sheep’s milk is rich in nutrients such as protein, iron or calcium which, thanks to the pasteurization process, helps to eliminate potentially harmful bacteria while maintaining the full flavor of the cheese.
In addition, pasteurized Merina sheep cheese is produced by local farmers with environmental ethics, making it one of the best and most sustainable cheese choices for consumers.
In summary and to conclude, pasteurized Merina sheep cheese is one of your best options if you lead a healthy lifestyle and want to enjoy the unique flavor and quality of the cheese. Likewise, keeping in mind the pasteurization process in any type of cheese and its importance is essential for your health.