Food guide
Camembert
Camembert is a mould-ripened soft cheese, and official guidance is to wait until 12 months. Even when it is made with pasteurized milk, mould-ripened cheeses carry a higher risk of listeria than hard cheeses - and listeria is far more dangerous for a baby than for an adult.
How to serve at this age
6-12 months: Not recommended. Offer a pasteurized hard cheese such as a mild cheddar-style cheese, shredded or in thin strips. 12+ months: Small, thin strips of pasteurized camembert with the rind removed, on its own, on toast fingers or stirred into soft food. Cooking it until piping hot removes the listeria risk. Offer occasionally - it is salty.
Nutrition
A source of calcium, protein, vitamin A and B12. Pasteurized hard cheeses give you the same nutrients with none of the listeria risk.
A note from the editors
Wait until 12 months, buy only pasteurized, and always take the rind off - it is tough to chew and a choking hazard.
Good to know
Camembert is a dairy product and a common allergen - introduce it on its own and watch for a reaction. As a mould-ripened soft cheese it is for 12 months and over, pasteurized only, and it is fairly salty, so serve it sparingly.