Tilsit cheese or tilsiter cheese is a smear-ripened cheese and it is recommended for women to avoid having it during their pregnancy. This is due to two reasons. Firstly because, studies have suggested that pregnant women should avoid having smear-ripened, soft cheeses as they could contain Listeria bacteria. Smear ripening is a process wherein a washed rind cheese is processed with solutions of bacteria or fungi. Secondly, tilsit cheese is made with the use of pasteurized as well as unpasteurized milk. And, women should refrain from having soft cheeses made with unpasteurized milk unless they are cooked thoroughly during pregnancy.
