Burrata is a popular fresh Italian cheese known for its unique texture and rich flavor. It features an outer shell of solid mozzarella encasing a soft, creamy filling of unspun curd and cream, called stracciatella. Because of its fresh, soft nature, many expecting parents question whether this indulgence is safe to consume during pregnancy. The safety relies entirely on a single production step.
Pasteurization: The Deciding Factor
The safety of burrata, like many soft cheeses, depends on whether the milk used was pasteurized. Pasteurization is a heat treatment process that heats milk to a specific temperature for a set time. This process eliminates harmful bacteria and pathogens without significantly altering the milk’s nutritional content.
In the United States and the European Union, most commercially available burrata is made using pasteurized milk, often due to regulatory requirements. However, traditional, imported, or artisanal burrata may still be crafted with unpasteurized, or raw, milk. The inner creamy stracciatella component must also come from pasteurized ingredients for the final product to be safe. Always check the packaging label for the explicit phrase “made with pasteurized milk” before consumption.
Understanding Listeriosis
Unpasteurized soft cheeses pose a risk due to the potential presence of the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. This bacterium causes Listeriosis, a serious concern during pregnancy. Pregnant individuals are at a higher risk of contracting Listeriosis compared to the general adult population.
While symptoms in the parent may be mild, often resembling a minor flu with fever and muscle aches, the infection can have severe consequences for the developing fetus. Listeria can cross the placenta, potentially leading to outcomes such as miscarriage, stillbirth, or premature delivery. An infection in the newborn can also result in a life-threatening illness. Healthcare providers advise avoiding any food likely to harbor this pathogen.
Safe Consumption Guidelines and Alternatives
When purchasing burrata, the primary step involves confirming the pasteurization status on the product label. If the label does not explicitly mention pasteurization, or if the cheese is purchased from an unverified source like an artisan market, select a different option. Proper handling is also important: the cheese must be stored at or below 40°F and discarded if left at room temperature for more than two hours.
Cooking Burrata
A practical way to eliminate the risk from any soft cheese, including burrata, is through thorough cooking. Heating the cheese until it is steaming hot throughout, generally reaching an internal temperature of 165°F (75°C), will destroy any Listeria that may be present. This makes burrata safe when incorporated into baked dishes like pizzas, pasta, or casseroles, even if its pasteurization status is uncertain. However, avoiding pre-prepared deli salads or containers of burrata where preparation hygiene is unknown is a sensible precaution due to the risk of cross-contamination.
Pasteurized Alternatives
If the creamy texture of burrata is desired, several pasteurized alternatives are readily available. Hard cheeses like cheddar and Parmesan are safe because their low moisture content naturally inhibits bacterial growth. Soft cheeses that are reliably pasteurized, such as cream cheese, cottage cheese, or store-bought ricotta, provide a similar richness without the heightened risk. Choosing these alternatives allows for the enjoyment of cheese while adhering to food safety guidelines during pregnancy.