Personal Injury Law

Listeria lessons from Gossip Girl Blair Waldorf

By Dr. Doug Powell

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.
 

Full post as published by BarfBlog on December 03, 2009 (boomark / email).