Asiago Cheese

Pasteurized asiago cheese may be introduced as soon as baby is ready to start solids, which is generally around 6 months of age. While asiago cheese can be high in sodium, a taste here and there as part of a variety of foods is not a cause for concern. Choose pasteurized asiago to minimize the risk of foodborne illness.

One of Italy’s oldest cheeses, asiago originated in the foothills of the Italian Alps in a town of the same name. That cheese likely tasted quite different from the asiago of today, in part because it used to be made from sheep’s milk. Today, asiago is generally made from cow’s milk and its production is regulated by Protected Designation of Origin, a European law that requires asiago be made from the milk of cows in certain alpine provinces in Italy. Asiago comes in two forms: asiago fresco (fresh asiago) and asiago d’allevo (aged asiago). 

Learn more about choosing cheese to share with babies.

Asiago is rich in protein, fat, calcium, selenium, zinc, and vitamins A and B12. Together, these nutrients work together to provide the building blocks for growth, development, and brain function. They also help support bone density, taste perception, vision, energy, and immunity to help baby thrive. Choose pasteurized asiago to minimize the risk of foodborne illness.

While asiago is typically high in sodium, the amount of sodium that babies eat tends to be low as they learn the skills to feed themselves, and some sodium is important for supporting baby’s electrolyte balance, hydration, and movement. While many health organizations recommend holding or reducing salt in food shared with baby, recent reviews of literature suggest that this may not be necessary. Furthermore, sharing family meals, even if they contain salt, has its benefits: baby has opportunities to explore a wider variety of food, share their family food culture, and practice eating a variety of textures.

Yes. Asiago cheese is often made from cow’s milk, which is classified as a Global Priority Allergen by the World Health Organization. It is an especially common food allergen in young children, accounting for about one-fifth of all childhood food allergies. Keep in mind that some asiago cheese may be made from sheep’s milk and dairy products from other ruminants such as sheep, goat, and buffalo may provoke similar allergic reactions to cow’s milk dairy products. That said, there’s good news: milk allergy often disappears with time. Research shows that the majority of children with cow's milk allergy will outgrow it by age 6, and many babies with milder symptoms of milk protein allergy (which can show up as painless blood in stool) are able to successfully reintroduce cow's milk as early as their first birthday, with the guidance of their appropriate pediatric health professionals. Note: Aged cheeses generally contain histamines, which may cause rashes in children who are sensitive to them.

Milk is a common cause of food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome, also known as FPIES. FPIES is a delayed allergy to food protein which causes the sudden onset of repetitive vomiting and diarrhea to begin a few hours after ingestion. This is termed acute FPIES. Left untreated, the reaction can result in significant dehydration. When milk is in the diet regularly, FPIES can present as reflux, weight loss, and failure to thrive - this is termed chronic FPIES. Symptoms generally improve with elimination of milk from the baby’s diet. Thankfully, like other forms of milk allergy, FPIES which presents early in life is generally outgrown by the time a child has reached 3-5 years of age.

Lactose intolerance, which is when the body has a hard time processing lactose, the sugar that is naturally present in milk, can sometimes be mistaken for an allergy, as it can result in bloating, gas, diarrhea, nausea, and other discomfort. For those with older children who are lactose intolerant (keep in mind this is uncommon for infants and toddlers), some good news: compared with milk and certain other dairy products, many cheeses may be better tolerated by those with lactose intolerance, particularly aged cheeses, which have lower lactose content. Be sure to connect with an appropriate pediatric health care professional for any questions about lactose intolerance, and know there are many lactose-free dairy foods available. 

If you suspect baby may be allergic to milk, consult an allergist before introducing dairy products like cheese. Based on a baby’s risk factors and history, your allergist may recommend allergy testing, or may instead advise dairy introduction under medical supervision in the office. If the risk is low, you may be advised to go ahead and introduce cheese in the home setting. As with all common allergens, start by serving a small quantity on its own for the first few servings, and if there is no adverse reaction, gradually increase the quantity over future meals. If you have already introduced milk and ruled out an allergy, pasteurized cheeses can be introduced as desired, without any need to start small and build up over time.

Yes. Cheeses like asiago are firm and can get globby and hard to manage in the mouth, qualities that increase the risk of choking. To reduce the risk, prepare and serve asiago in an age-appropriate way. As always, make sure you create a safe eating environment and stay within arm’s reach of baby during meals. For more information on choking, visit our section on gagging and choking and familiarize yourself with the list of common choking hazards.

There is not a limit; if desired, you could serve pasteurized cheeses every day, but try not to worry about the exact amounts baby is consuming. During any given meal, a baby may eat lots of the cheese, or they may eat very little. Both scenarios are fine when cheese is part of a variety of foods in the diet.

When first getting started, offer a small amount and trust that baby knows how to show interest in wanting more by grunting, pointing, or reaching out. Keep in mind that most babies between 6 and 9 months of age do not consume much solid food at first. For babies between 10 and 12 months of age, work toward what a balanced adult meal would look like, just with smaller portions than what you might have. Follow the child’s lead: when baby indicates “more”, offer more food. When baby shows signs that they are finished, stop offering food.