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Is it safe? · Pregnancy Smart

Is cream cheese safe during pregnancy?

Assigned clinical reviewerMichael Yuzefovich· MD, FACOGDraft · pending clinical reviewUpdated

What does the evidence say about cream cheese during pregnancy?

  1. Cream cheese made with pasteurized milk sits on the safer side of CDC's official pregnancy food chart, right alongside cottage cheese and mozzarella. 1
  2. The cheeses that actually need a pasteurized-label check are soft, mold-ripened, or fresh Mexican-style ones like Brie, feta, Camembert, and queso fresco, not cream cheese. 2
  3. If a no-bake cheesecake or a classic tiramisu has you second-guessing, raw or barely cooked egg in the filling is the bigger question mark, not the cream cheese itself. 1
  4. Pregnant women develop a serious Listeria infection at a much higher rate than other adults, which is why a fever after eating a recalled food deserves a same-day call to your provider. 3
  5. A Listeria infection can raise the chance of pregnancy loss even when the person carrying the pregnancy feels only mildly unwell, which is exactly why sticking with pasteurized choices matters more than waiting to feel sick. 4

Is cream cheese safe in each trimester?

  • First trimester. Morning sickness makes bland, familiar foods appealing, and a cream cheese bagel is a perfectly fine choice when little else sounds good.
  • Second trimester. As appetite picks back up, cream cheese dips, spreads, and a slice of cheesecake at a party are fine to enjoy since standard U.S. cream cheese is pasteurized.
  • Third trimester. Pregnancy naturally lowers your resistance to infections like Listeria, so keep choosing sealed, refrigerated, pasteurized cream cheese and stay consistent with the same rule through the final weeks.

Frequently asked questions

Is cheesecake safe to eat during pregnancy?

A baked cheesecake is cooked through, and its cream cheese filling is pasteurized, so a slice from a bakery or restaurant is a fine choice. If you come across a no-bake or raw-egg version at a potluck, ask about the recipe first.

What about tiramisu?

Traditional tiramisu is made with mascarpone, not cream cheese, and the real caution points are raw egg in the classic recipe and the alcohol soaked into the ladyfingers. Many restaurants now use a cooked custard or pasteurized egg, so it's worth a quick question before you order.

Are flavored or whipped cream cheese spreads any different?

Flavored tubs, whipped cream cheese, and cream cheese frosting go through the same pasteurization as the plain block, so the same safer-choice rule applies. Unpasteurized versions are rare in the U.S. but worth a label check at a farmers market or specialty shop.

How do I know if a cream cheese product is pasteurized?

Look for the word pasteurized on the label, which covers nearly every cream cheese sold at U.S. grocery stores. If you can't confirm it, such as with an imported or artisan product, the simplest move is to skip it or ask your healthcare provider.

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References

  1. Safer Food Choices for Pregnant Women

    CDC · https://www.cdc.gov/food-safety/foods/pregnant-women.html

  2. Food Safety for Moms-to-Be: At-a-Glance

    FDA · https://www.fda.gov/food/people-risk-foodborne-illness/food-safety-moms-be-glance

  3. Management of Pregnant Women With Presumptive Exposure to Listeria monocytogenes

    ACOG · https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/committee-opinion/articles/2014/12/management-of-pregnant-women-with-presumptive-exposure-to-listeria-monocytogenes

  4. Listeria Infection (Listeriosis): MotherToBaby Fact Sheet

    MotherToBaby · https://mothertobaby.org/fact-sheets/listeriosis-pregnancy/

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.