Are Soft Cheeses Dangerous?

"Say cheese," the photographer says, and the subject can't help but smile. Indeed, both the word and the food itself are something to smile about. As an appetizer, sandwich entrée, or dessert with fruit, cheese is delicious, healthy, and generally a rather low-risk food as far as pathogens go. However, some cheeses can be a threat to pregnant women and those with weakened immune systems due to illness, old age, or medical treatment.  But consumers can protect themselves if, before consuming or purchasing cheese, they pay attention to the type of cheese and the way it was processed. Soft cheeses are more likely than hard ones to carry a possibly deadly bacterium, but that doesn't mean that all soft cheeses are taboo for people in the high-risk categories.

ETHEL TIERSKY, the editor and frequent author for http://shelflifeadvice.com,has been a free-lance writer since 1963 and a food safety fanatic for even longer. She has published dozens of magazine articles and co-authored 14 grammar texts and readers for adults studying the English language. Developing http://shelflifeadvice.com has kept her busy since retiring from her teaching position as associate professor of English at Harry Truman College in Chicago. Some of her other writings for the site include "Don't Let Those Food Expiration Dates Scare You," product write-ups on mayonnaise and water, and "Pyrex Glassware: Is It Safe to Use?"

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