Last Updated on September 24, 2022
Havarti cheese is getting the nod from Gen-X shoppers. Should pregnant women worry?
Havarti cheese is safe to eat during pregnancy, provided it is made with pasteurized milk.
In this article, we learn more about the types of Havarti cheese, how to tell if it’s pasteurized, how they differ from each other, what flavors are available, and how you can enjoy them. Read on!
Is Havarti Cheese Safe During Pregnancy?
Pregnant women can eat Havarti cheese, as long as the milk used to make it is pasteurized.
There are two known types of Havarti cheese: Cream Havarti and Havarti, with the latter being the one we see in supermarkets, grocery stores, and online shops.
Cream Havarti, Danish “Fløde Havarti”, is associated with the traditional Havarti that originated in Denmark. It is a semi-hard, creamy cheese made from Danish cow’s milk (source: Cheese Market News).
There is no known evidence as to whether or not pasteurized milk is used in making cream Havarti or the traditional Danish Havarti. Original Havarti is considered artisanal and imported from Denmark.
However, in the US, Havarti is produced in Wisconsin, California, and New York, with Wisconsin as the biggest producer.
Havarti cheese made in the US is usually produced with pasteurized milk, which makes it safe for pregnant women.
This also applies to all flavors that are available, including mild, aromatic, spicy, jalapeno, garlic, chipotle pepper, and even horseradish. Cheeses are also flavored with dill, cumin, or caraway.
Is Havarti Cheese Pasteurized?
As a rule of thumb, any types of food made from unpasteurized milk is unsafe for pregnant women (source: NHS). The FDA has strict regulations against the use of unpasteurized milk for food safety reasons. Havarti cheese is safe for pregnant women because the milk used is pasteurized.
Generally, the milk used in Havarti cheese is pasteurized and has a standardized fat content. The higher the fat, the higher the moisture content (source: American Cheese Society). Regardless of the fat content, it is recommended to refrigerate Havarti cheese between 35 °F –40 °F (1.67 °C–4.44 °C) before using it (source: Clemson Cooperative Extension).
While there are a lot of choices for Havarti cheese on the market, here are some popular (and safe) Havarti brands that are OK during pregnancy, and available in the US:
- Sargento
- Dietz & Watson
- Happy Belly
Make your Havarti cheese experience even better with these recipe ideas:
- Havarti Artichoke Dip
- Havarti Cheese Panini
- Turkey with Havarti Sandwich
- Havarti Macaroni and Cheese
- Havarti Cheeseburger Sliders
- Grilled Havarti Sandwich
Havarti cheese is a good choice for pregnant women when it is made with pasteurized milk. It’s even better now that many flavors are available! We hope this article has explained the basics of Havarti cheese for expectant moms.
| This article has been reviewed and approved for publication in line with our editorial policy. |