Most cheese is safe during pregnancy. The risk comes from a specific bacteria called Listeria monocytogenes, which thrives in soft, moist, unpasteurized cheeses. Hard cheeses, pasteurized soft cheeses, and all cooked cheese dishes are safe. This is one of the most searched topics in our cheese reference guides, and we base every recommendation on FDA and NHS food safety guidelines.
The confusion exists because advice varies by country, and many lists lump all soft cheeses together without distinguishing pasteurized from raw. We break it down by cheese type with clear yes-or-no answers.
In This Article
The Listeria Risk in Cheese
Listeria monocytogenes is a bacteria that can cause listeriosis, a rare but serious infection. For most healthy adults, it causes mild flu-like symptoms. During pregnancy, it can cross the placental barrier and cause miscarriage, stillbirth, or severe newborn illness.
The risk is real but narrow. Listeriosis from cheese is rare in countries with modern food safety systems. The CDC reports roughly 1,600 cases of listeriosis per year in the United States across all food sources, not just cheese.
- High-risk cheeses are soft, moist, and made with raw (unpasteurized) milk
- Low-risk cheeses are hard, aged, or made with pasteurized milk
- No-risk preparation means cooking cheese to 165 degrees F (74 degrees C), which kills listeria
The key factor is moisture content, not softness alone. Listeria needs moisture to grow. Hard aged cheeses like aged Italian granular and aged firm cow's milk staple have too little moisture to support bacterial growth, regardless of whether they started with raw milk.
This guide is for general reference only. Always consult your doctor or midwife for medical advice specific to your pregnancy. Food safety recommendations vary by country and may change based on your health history.
Cheeses Safe During Pregnancy
These cheese types are considered safe by both the FDA (United States) and the NHS (United Kingdom). You can eat them without restriction during pregnancy.
Hard and Aged Cheeses (Always Safe)
Hard cheeses have low moisture and high acidity, which prevent listeria growth. They are safe whether made from pasteurized or raw milk, because the aging process reduces moisture below the level bacteria need.
- aged Italian granular (Parmigiano-Reggiano) aged 12-36 months
- firm cow's milk staple including raw-milk farmhouse Cheddar
- fondue essential and other aged alpine cheeses
- firm La Mancha cheese aged 3 months or longer
- Pecorino Romano and other hard Italian grating cheeses
- Swiss hole cheese and Swiss cheese
- Dutch wax-coated wheel (aged varieties, not young/fresh Gouda)
- versatile Italian alpine (aged/d'allevo, not fresh/pressato)
The general rule: if the cheese is hard enough to grate, it is safe during pregnancy. The low moisture content makes it inhospitable to listeria regardless of the milk source.
Pasteurized Soft Cheeses (Safe)
Soft cheeses made from pasteurized milk are safe. Pasteurization heats the milk to 161 degrees F for 15 seconds, killing listeria and other harmful bacteria before cheesemaking begins.
- soft American spread (always pasteurized in the US)
- diet-friendly fresh cheese (always pasteurized)
- pillowy fresh cheese (check label for pasteurization)
- pasta-filata classic (US supermarket mozzarella is pasteurized)
- Processed cheese slices and spreads (always safe)
- Pasteurized tangy crumbled white (most US brands are pasteurized)
- Pasteurized fresh goat's milk cheese (check the label)
In the United States, most commercially sold soft cheeses are pasteurized by law. Check the label. If it says "made with pasteurized milk," it is safe. The risk rises with imported artisan cheeses that may use raw milk.
When eating out, ask whether the cheese is pasteurized. Most restaurants use pasteurized cheese, but artisan pizza places and French restaurants may use imported raw-milk varieties. When in doubt, ask the server or skip it.
Cheeses to Avoid During Pregnancy
The cheeses below carry higher listeria risk and should be avoided during pregnancy unless cooked to 165 degrees F.
- Raw-milk soft cheeses: traditional French mild bloomy cheese, raw-milk soft bloomy-rind cheese, Reblochon, Epoisses
- Unpasteurized blue cheeses: Roquefort, traditional Italian blue DOP, Danish Blue (raw-milk versions)
- Fresh Mexican-style cheeses: queso fresco, queso blanco, panela (often unpasteurized from small producers)
- Mold-ripened soft cheeses with raw milk: any bloomy-rind cheese labeled "lait cru" or "raw milk"
The common thread is soft texture plus raw milk. The softness means high moisture. The raw milk means no pasteurization step killed bacteria before production. Together, these create conditions where listeria can survive and multiply.
Pasteurized versions of Brie, Camembert, and feta sold in US supermarkets are safe. The brand matters less than the pasteurization label. President Brie (pasteurized) is safe. A wheel of Brie de Meaux from a French fromagerie (raw milk) is not.
Cooking eliminates the risk entirely. A baked Brie heated to 165 degrees F is safe during pregnancy. So is pizza with any cheese, fondue, grilled cheese, and mac and cheese. The heat kills listeria regardless of the original milk source.
Cheese Safety Rules for Pregnancy
These four rules cover every situation you will encounter. Follow them and you can enjoy cheese throughout pregnancy without worry.
These rules align with guidelines from the FDA, the NHS, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. The consensus across food safety authorities is clear: hard cheese and pasteurized soft cheese are safe during pregnancy.
Pregnancy Cheese Safety by Country
Food safety advice differs slightly between countries. The core principle (avoid raw-milk soft cheese) is universal, but the specific lists vary.
- United States (FDA): avoid soft cheeses made with unpasteurized milk, including feta, Brie, Camembert, blue-veined cheeses, and queso fresco unless made with pasteurized milk
- United Kingdom (NHS): avoid mold-ripened soft cheeses (Brie, Camembert) and soft blue cheeses (Gorgonzola, Roquefort) unless cooked through, regardless of pasteurization status
- Australia (FSANZ): similar to NHS guidance, avoid soft and semi-soft cheeses unless cooked
The NHS takes a stricter position than the FDA. The NHS advises against all mold-ripened soft cheeses during pregnancy, even pasteurized ones, because the moist rind environment can support listeria growth after production. The FDA considers pasteurized versions safe.
If you follow the stricter NHS guidance, you avoid all soft mold-ripened cheese unless cooked. If you follow the FDA, pasteurized Brie and Camembert are fine. Discuss with your healthcare provider which guideline suits your situation.
Calcium and Nutrition from Safe Cheeses
Cheese is one of the best dietary sources of calcium during pregnancy. You need 1,000 mg of calcium daily during pregnancy, and hard cheeses deliver concentrated doses without the listeria concern.
- umami-rich Italian wheel>Parmesan: 331 mg calcium per ounce (33% of daily need)
- fondue essential: 286 mg calcium per ounce (29% of daily need)firm cow's milk stapler/">Cheddar: 204 mg calcium per ounce (20% of daily need)
- pasta-filata classic (pasteurized): 222 mg calcium per ounce (22% of daily need)
Two ounces of Parmesan provides two-thirds of your daily calcium requirement. That makes it one of the most efficient pregnancy-safe calcium sources available, and grated Parmesan works on pasta, salads, soups, and eggs.
For more on calcium content and nutrition data across cheese types, our individual cheese profiles include detailed nutrition breakdowns. The Parmesan profile and Cheddar profile both include per-ounce mineral data.
Pregnancy Cheese Safety FAQ
These are the pregnancy cheese questions we receive most frequently from readers.
Pasteurized Brie sold in US supermarkets (like President brand) is safe during pregnancy according to the FDA. Raw-milk Brie imported from France is not safe unless cooked to 165 degrees F. The NHS advises avoiding all Brie during pregnancy unless cooked, regardless of pasteurization. Check the label and consult your doctor.
Yes. Supermarket mozzarella in the United States is made with pasteurized milk and is safe during pregnancy. Fresh mozzarella balls (bocconcini) are also safe if pasteurized. Imported Italian mozzarella di bufala may use raw milk, so check the label.
Pasteurized feta is safe. Most feta sold in US grocery stores is pasteurized. Imported Greek feta may be made with raw sheep milk. Check the label for "pasteurized milk" before eating. Crumbled feta in sealed containers is almost always pasteurized in the US market.
Yes. Heating any cheese to 165 degrees F (74 degrees C) kills listeria bacteria. This means baked Brie, pizza, fondue, grilled cheese, quiche, and any fully melted cheese dish is safe regardless of the original milk source. The cheese must be heated through, not just warmed on the surface.
Yes. Cream cheese is always made with pasteurized milk in the United States and is safe during pregnancy. This includes all major brands like Philadelphia. Cream cheese also has a relatively low moisture content compared to other soft cheeses, which further reduces bacterial risk.