Listeria lessons from Gossip Girl Blair Waldorf

Posted: December 3rd, 2009 - 12:54am by Katie Filion

Last night while watching the Thanksgiving episode of Gossip Girl, queen of the Upper East Side Blair Waldorf was up to another one of her schemes. In an attempt to prove her mother is pregnant, Blair offers her food and drink pregnant women should avoid: champagne and soft cheeses.

Over Thanksgiving dinner she coyly tempts,

“Mother, here, try some camembert, it’s from Artisanal!”

When her mother refuses, Blair concedes she is pregnant.

Blair’s mother turns out not to be pregnant, and Blair never explains why pregnant women should avoid camembert. Camembert is a soft cheese, traditionally made from unpasteurized cow’s milk (although pasteurized forms exist). Soft cheeses should be avoided during pregnancy as they have been identified as sources of listeria which can cause miscarriage or stillbirth.

Amy has written more about what to avoid during pregnancy, here.
 

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Comments

Daniel B. says:

Camembert is indeed traditionally made from raw milk, but it is next to impossible to find this traditional cheese in the United States.If you want a raw milk camembert, you will need to specifically seek it out. You have no chance of walking into a store, picking up a camembert and walking out with a cheese made from unpasteurized cow's milk.The way you have written about it would imply the opposite.Personally, I am a big fan of raw milk cheeses. I appreciate all the work you do, but there are some things in my opinion that are worth the risks. Raw milk cheeses are one of them.Risk is all around us. It is impossible to eliminate from our lives. Yes, it is better for people to be made aware of the risks in their choices. But I sincerely hope your work doesn't infringe further on my ability to eat incredibly delicious food.

Posted on December 7th, 2009 - 9:32am

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