Without a doubt, Feta is Greece’s most famous cheese. Indeed, its history goes back a few thousand years and the cheese first appeared in Homer’s Odyssey. Read on to discover the nutrition facts for Feta, a mixed goat and sheep milk brined cheese.
SEE ALSO: Nutrition facts for popular world cheeses in The Cheese Wanker’s index →
Country of origin
Greece
Type of Cheese
Milk
Goat/Sheep
Examples
Barrel-Aged Feta, Marinated Feta, Dodoni Feta
Safe
Lactose Intolerance, Pregnancy
Avoid
Milk Protein Intolerance, Keto Diet, Low Sodium Diet
Nutrition Facts Summary for Feta Cheese
Like most other brined cheeses, Feta contains very low levels of lactose. As a result, even the most sensitive lactose intolerant cheese lovers tends to be able to digest this traditional Greek cheese comfortably. However, because it contains milk protein, it can be problematic for people who suffer from milk protein intolerance.
Since it has a relatively low moisture level and does not have a rind, Feta is usually deemed safe to consume during pregnancy. Actually, the only exception to this rule is for raw milk Feta. This particular type of Feta is made with unpasteurised goat and sheep milk. Because of this, most health authorities around the world consider it to be unsafe during pregnancy.
Finally, all versions of Feta have a very high sodium (salt) content. While the salt crafts the signature flavour of this iconic cheese, it does make it unfit for people who are on a restricted sodium diet. Overall, this includes people with high blood pressure and heart conditions.
References
All the advice relating to what cheeses you can eat during pregnancy in this article is based on the recommendations by health authorities in Australia, the UK and the USA. If you are unsure about what you can or cannot eat, please consult your doctor.
Australia – FSANZ
United Kingdom – NHS
United Sates of America – FDA
