In this brief article, we will answer the question, "Can you eat blue cheese if you are allergic to penicillin?" Moreover, we will elaborate on what blue cheese is, is blue cheese safe to eat for people who are susceptible to allergy, what are its side effects, and the nutritional content of blue cheese.

Can you eat blue cheese if you are allergic to penicillin?

Yes, you can eat blue cheese if you are allergic to penicillin, but the condition is to have a good immune system. If you are allergic to penicillin, it is recommended to eat blue cheese after following all the possible cautions. Also, you should go through a test of allergic reaction by your allergist.

In some cases, patients are only allergic to the medication of penicillin but if they are also allergic to the mould of penicillium, then eating blue cheese will lead to a toxic reaction that will cause allergy.

Blue Cheese

Blue cheese is a type of cheese made with Penicillium mould culture, which has blue veins or spots inside the cheese. However, this colour transition may be different like it can also be green or blue.

Blue cheese has a certain smell that may be due to cultured bacteria inside the blue cheese. Blue cheese gets ripened in an environment where the temperature is under control such as a cave. Blue cheese can be ingested in over a range of foods.

The flavour of blue cheese is sharp and salted. This certain type of smell is extracted from the bacteria which are grown on that cheese. In addition to bacteria, mould can also be one of the reasons for this smell that is associated with the growth of blue cheese.

The bacteria Brevibacterium linens which are termed as gram-positive, rod-shaped bacteria that belong to Brevibacteriaceae, are responsible for the odour of the human body, odour in human feet, and also generate smell in cheese.

What is blue cheese mould?

Blue cheese is a kind of cheese formed from penicillium's culture, that is also considered as mould. Certain forms of mould secrete different mycotoxins that are dangerous to the human species.

The growth of this mould occurs because of the spoilage of food that may be of a different colour such as black, blue, grey and their form is typically fuzzy, not similar to this mould. Penicillium is also used to produce blue cheese which is not toxic to human health and is considered safe for ingestion.

The blue colour of cheese and the veins or spots inside the cheese is all due to the penicillium. To properly enjoy the blue cheese, firstly it should be placed for three to four months. This tenure will help out the cheese to gain its complete nourishment.

Does Blue cheese go bad?

One of the reasons for cheese spoilage is its improper storage. The taste, colour and odour of cheese can be altered due to improper storage. Therefore, it is recommended to store cheese properly in the refrigerator after wrapping tightly.

Due to the good storage of cheese in the refrigerator, the shelf-life of cheese can be enhanced up to 3 to 4 weeks.

The shelf life of blue cheese can be increased by the storage of cheese in frozen form in the refrigerator. At freezing temperature, the physical properties of cheese are altered including its appearance and texture but it remains safe to eat even at freezing temperature.

Safety

If any type of sign or symptom is seen in cheese then discard it immediately, don't use it for any purpose. Major symptoms of spoiled blue cheese are the appearance of velvety green, pink or grey coloured spots on the surface of the cheese.

Blue cheese which is not nutritious to health should be avoided because consuming bad cheese will cause different symptoms of food poisoning such as vomiting, diarrhoea, nausea, and cramps.

In addition to this, certain types of mould produce toxins. These toxins can cause disturbance in the digestive system and can also participate in producing cancerous factors, and also repress the immune system.

To enjoy blue cheese safely, it is recommended to store blue cheese in the refrigerator frozen and also, use blue cheese by following good food safety measures.

Conclusion

In this brief article, we have answered the question, "Can you eat blue cheese if you are allergic to penicillin?" Moreover, we will elaborate on what blue cheese is, is blue cheese safe to eat for people who are susceptible to allergy, what are its side effects, and the nutritional content of blue cheese.

References

https://www.sciencefocus.com/science/if-you-are-allergic-to-penicillin-can-you-eat-stilton/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_cheese

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/is-blue-cheese-mold#bottom-line

Hi, I am Charlotte, I love cooking and in my previous life, I was a chef. I bring some of my experience to the recipes on this hub and answer your food questions.