Intolerances & risks

Food is never germ-free. Some microorganisms in foods are desired, because they make it possible to produce the food in the first place; some are not. One example of undesired bacteria in food is listeria. Depending on the circumstances, for example during pregnancy, infection by this bacteria is associated with certain risks. You can find more about this below.

Lactose (milk sugar) is a disaccharide, which consists of part glucose (grape sugar) and part galactose. When it comes to the digestion of lactose, the bond between these two sugars is separated and the two sugars are absorbed into the blood separately. In the case of people who suffer from a lactose intolerance, this process does not work properly or only to a limited degree. The result is that the undigested lactose reaches deep into the bowel, where it can lead to digestive complaints, such as flatulence and diarrhoea. Limiting the consumption of lactose can improve symptoms and eradicate them altogether. The amount of milk sugar that can be tolerated by a person with a lactose intolerance varies from person to person. Most people with an intolerance can tolerate smaller quantities of lactose. Eradicating lactose completely is rarely necessary.

A large proportion of the lactose is separated with the whey during cheese production. The remaining lactose is almost entirely broken down by lactic acid bacteria during the maturation process. Hard and extra-hard cheeses qualify as lactose-free. Semi-hard cheeses and soft cheeses contain traces of lactose. But with the lactose content often less than 0.1g per 100g, these cheeses are tolerated by most people and are permitted to be labelled as lactose-free by law. Cream cheese, quark and processed cheese have higher lactose contents.

All hard, semi-hard and soft cheeses go through a maturation process and thus contain substantial quantities of histamine. People who suffer from a histamine intolerance should switch to cream cheese like cottage cheese or quark. There is no reason for healthy people to avoid histamine-rich foods.

The correct name of the bacteria, which causes the listeriosis infection is listeria monocytogenes. This infection tends to be mild for people with a well-functioning immune system. However, the infection can have serious consequences for people with a weakened immune system and unborn children. Listeria is found in many places in nature but is largely transferred to humans via food.

Soft and semi-hard cheeses, made from both unpasteurised and pasteurised milk, feta and blue cheese are susceptible to listeria contamination. Pregnant women and people with a weakened immune system should switch to hard and extra hard cheeses (made from unpasteurised or pasteurised milk). The rind should not be eaten. Cream cheese, pasteurised mozzarella, melted cheese, fondue and all other melted or heated cheese like raclette, cheese used in gratin and grilled cheese are all suitable.