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Is it safe? · Pregnancy Smart

Is soft cheese safe during pregnancy?

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

What does the evidence say about soft cheese during pregnancy?

  1. Soft cheeses made from unpasteurized milk, like queso fresco, panela, brie, camembert, blue-veined, and feta, are a recurring source of listeria infection in pregnant people. 1
  2. Soft cheeses made from pasteurized milk are fine to eat during pregnancy, since pasteurization kills listeria. 2
  3. Pregnant people are about 10 times more likely to get a serious listeria infection than the general population. 3
  4. Pasteurized dairy products are required to say so on the label, so if a soft cheese doesn't clearly say pasteurized, assume it isn't. 4

Is soft cheese safe in each trimester?

  • First trimester. Same rule applies in every trimester: read the label, and if it doesn't say pasteurized, skip it.
  • Second trimester. Stay alert. Farmers' markets and imported deli counters are common places to accidentally get unpasteurized cheese.
  • Third trimester. Listeria infection late in pregnancy carries serious risks, including stillbirth or preterm labor, so keep sticking to pasteurized-only.

Frequently asked questions

Is store-bought brie in the U.S. usually pasteurized?

Most brie sold in mainstream U.S. supermarkets is made with pasteurized milk, but check the label to confirm. Imported artisan brie may not be pasteurized.

What about baked brie?

Yes, if it's fully baked and hot all the way through, since the heat kills listeria even if the cheese started out unpasteurized. Just make sure it's piping hot, not just warm on the outside.

Is feta safe if I don't know the source?

If you can't confirm it's pasteurized, skip it, or cook it into a dish that reaches a high internal temperature.

What about crumbled or shredded cheese in packaged salads?

Commercially packaged cheese from major U.S. producers is generally pasteurized. Deli counters and farmers' markets are the more common risk spots.

Related in the library

References

  1. Safer Food Choices for Pregnant Women: CDC Food Safety

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

  2. About Listeria Infection

    CDC · https://www.cdc.gov/listeria/about/index.html

  3. Listeriosis and Pregnancy: MotherToBaby Fact Sheet

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

  4. The Dangers of Raw Milk: Unpasteurized Milk Can Pose a Serious Health Risk (FDA)

    FDA · https://www.fda.gov/food/buy-store-serve-safe-food/dangers-raw-milk-unpasteurized-milk-can-pose-serious-health-risk

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.