Penicillin - Allergy, OK To Consume Cheese?

[darius]

Has anyone who has a penicillin allergy successfully eaten a blue cheese? I'm making a Faux Stilton and I am allergic to penicillin.

[Cheese Head]

Hi darius, good question.

While not blue P roqueforti, there is some discussion here on white P candidum with members not being allergic. You coul send a PM to DeejayDebi.

[darius]

Thanks, John.

I'm curious about what others have to say (if anything) about p. Roqueforti...

[mtncheesemaker]

I never thought about that before. My husband is allergic to Penicillin also, but eats blue and mold-ripened cheeses as often as possible with no ill effects.

[linuxboy]

You should be fine. All the several dozen common commercial roqueforti strains that come to mind have little to no b-lactam (such as penicillin) production. Penicilliums are a large genus, with only several isolated ones such as P chrysogenum producing enough b-lactams to trigger a reaction.

[darius]

Both of those last 2 posts are quite reassuring, Thanks!

[Tomer1]

My mother is alergic to penicilin and has no problem eating blue cheese.

[beerbutcher]

just saw an allergy specialist because of a swollen tongue reaction which i associated to some stilton i had that night. the cheese might have been the cause but not because of the p. roque. cultures one can purchase commercially.  They are all assured to lack the necessary genes for penicillin production... had the test with the drug and the mold and no reaction at the office.  they told me it's possible there was another blue strain in the cave which was a producer but i'm not allergic anyway so it's a moot point here.  regardless, probably no penicillin in the cheese, but if you're concerned stick to the more fresh/ hygienic varieties.

[smilingcalico]

I was just asked this question the other day, but didn't have a good answer.  I do now!  Thanks to the asker and contributers!