Soft cheeses and pregnancy

Are Soft Cheeses Safe During Pregnancy? Experts Explain

Food

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Unfortunately, some soft cheeses can carry harmful bacteria.

by Ashley Jones

Oct. 13, 2021

The list of things you can’t do or need to modify during pregnancy can feel lengthy and confusing. From deli meats to coffee consumption, trampoline jumping and hot tub soaking, the rules get blurry sometimes. You know alcohol is off limits, but what about your most beloved snack food? Can you eat soft cheeses during pregnancy? Before you reach across the charcuterie board for another bite of Brie, here’s what you need to know.

What are the risks of eating soft cheeses during pregnancy?

“Soft cheese gets its ‘softness’ from the high moisture content in the cheese. Unfortunately, this makes the cheese prime for the bacteria listeria to breed and multiply,” Dr. Neely Elisha, a board-certified obstetrician, tells Romper.

This type of bacteria can cause illness if consumed, especially when you’re pregnant. “Listeria is the bacteria that can grow in soft cheeses and is dangerous to pregnant women and the baby, and can result in miscarriage or premature birth,” obstetrician Dr. Kim Langdon tells Romper.

When a person consumes listeria in soft cheese or another type of food, they can get an infection called listeriosis. According to Elisha, pregnant women can experience mild flu-like symptoms, abdominal or back pain, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea from listeriosis, but the impacts to a fetus can be life-threatening.

“These symptoms may manifest as much as two months after having been infected with the listeria bacterium. However, the woman may not experience any symptoms at all. While the symptoms in the pregnant woman are mild, infections in the fetus or newborn baby can be severe,” Elisha stresses. She also notes that preterm labor could result, or you could lose your baby before they are born. The baby could also be born seriously ill with meningitis or sepsis and pass away after birth from the infection.

Doula and birth expert Sara Lyon tells Romper that when it comes to listeria, “It’s important to note that soft cheese isn’t the only potential carrier; other foods like deli meat and sprouts, as well as lesser recognized foods like eggs, raw fruits and vegetables are also potential carriers.” She implores pregnant moms to do their research before consuming foods that can potentially carry listeria.

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Can you eat

any soft cheeses during pregnancy?

The official recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is that pregnant women should avoid soft cheeses made with unpasteurized milk and only purchase soft cheeses with the word “pasteurized” on the label. This means that most types of cream cheese, cottage cheese, and mozzarella, though soft in nature, are OK as long as they’re pasteurized. (Go ahead and smear that bagel, y’all.)

Blue-veined cheeses are one group of soft cheeses that Elisha specifically cautions women to avoid during pregnancy. “To avoid getting listeriosis during pregnancy, you should not eat any soft blue-veined cheeses such as Danish blue or gorgonzola. These cheeses are made with mold and can contain listeria,” Elisha tells Romper. “Other soft cheeses such as brie, camembert, roquefort, and feta, and Mexican cheeses like queso blanco and queso fresco also should not be eaten.”

In general, experts agree with the CDC’s recommendation, though some urge expectant parents to take an even more conservative approach when choosing soft cheeses due to the potential risks involved. As always, if you aren’t sure what foods you should or shouldn’t consume during pregnancy, your personal doctor or healthcare provider is the best guide.

How can you know which cheeses are safe to eat during pregnancy?

“Non-soft cheese and those that that are made with pasteurized milk are safe to eat during pregnancy,” Elisha tells Romper. So if you do get a craving for cheese, Swiss, cheddar, and gouda are all solid, safe options.

But how can expectant moms know whether their favorite cheeses fall into this category? Simply put: check the label.

“If you’re purchasing cheese from a mainstream supermarket, it will probably be well marked with the contents, including pasteurized vs. unpasteurized milk. If you’re buying from a shop that’s staffed with cheese mongers, simply ask them for guidance,” Lyon recommends. “Never be afraid to appear any type-of-way. You won’t enjoy the cheese if you’re eating it worried about the consequences, so get the info!”

Experts:

Dr. Neely Elisha, D.O., board-certified OB-GYN at Inspira Health

Dr. Kim Langdon, OB-GYN with Medzino

Sara Lyon, birthing expert, doula, author of The Birth Deck and You’ve Got This: Your Guide to Getting Comfortable with Labor

Foods to avoid in pregnancy

Most foods and drinks are safe to have during pregnancy. But there are some things you should be careful with or avoid.

Cheese, milk and other dairy

What you can eat

pasteurised or unpasteurised hard cheeses, such as cheddar, Gruyere and parmesan
pasteurised semi-hard cheeses, such as Edam and Stilton
pasteurised soft cheeses, such as cottage cheese, mozzarella, feta, cream cheese, paneer, ricotta, halloumi, goats' cheese without a white coating on the outside (rind) and processed cheese spreads
soft or blue cheese (pasteurised or unpasteurised) that has been cooked until steaming hot
pasteurised milk, yoghurt, cream and ice cream

What to avoid

any other foods made from unpasteurised milk, such as soft ripened goats' cheese
pasteurised or unpasteurised mould-ripened soft cheeses with a white coating on the outside, such as Brie, Camembert and chèvre (unless cooked until steaming hot)
pasteurised or unpasteurised soft blue cheeses, such as Danish blue, Gorgonzola and Roquefort (unless cooked until steaming hot)
unpasteurised cows' milk, goats' milk, sheep's milk or cream

Why

There's a small chance that unpasteurised or soft ripened dairy products may contain Listeria bacteria. This can cause an infection called listeriosis.

Listeriosis can lead to miscarriage or stillbirth, or make your newborn baby very unwell.

Soft cheeses with a white coating on the outside have more moisture. This can make it easier for bacteria to grow.

Cooking cheese until it's steaming hot kills bacteria, reducing the risk of listeriosis.

Meat and poultry

What you can eat

meats such as chicken, pork and beef, as long as they're well-cooked with no trace of pink or blood; be especially careful with poultry, pork, sausages and burgers
cold, pre-packed meats such as ham and corned beef

What to be careful with

cold cured meats, such as salami, pepperoni, chorizo and prosciutto (unless cooked thoroughly)

What to avoid

raw or undercooked meat
liver and liver products
all types of pâté, including vegetarian pâté
game meats such as goose, partridge or pheasant

Why

There's a small risk of getting toxoplasmosis if you eat raw and undercooked meat, which can cause miscarriage.

Cured meats are not cooked, so they may have parasites in them that cause toxoplasmosis.

Liver and liver products have lots of vitamin A in them. This can be harmful to an unborn baby.

Game meats may contain lead shot.

Eggs

What you can eat

raw, partially cooked and fully cooked British Lion hen eggs (they have a lion stamp on them) and hen eggs produced under the Laid in Britain scheme
foods made with raw hen egg, such as mousse and mayonnaise, if made with British Lion eggs or hen eggs produced under the Laid in Britain scheme
well cooked eggs (white and yolk) from any hen eggs that are not British Lion eggs or produced under the Laid in Britain scheme
well cooked eggs (white and yolk) of all other eggs, including duck, goose or quail

What to avoid

raw or partially cooked hen eggs that are not British Lion or produced under the Laid in Britain scheme
raw or partially cooked duck, goose or quail eggs

Why

British Lion hen eggs and hen eggs produced under the Laid in Britain scheme are less likely to have salmonella in them.

Salmonella is unlikely to harm your unborn baby, but you could get food poisoning.

You should cook all eggs thoroughly, unless they are British Lion hen eggs or hen eggs produced under the Laid in Britain scheme.

Fish

What you can eat

cooked fish and seafood
sushi, as long as the fish has been cooked thoroughly
cooked shellfish, such as mussels, lobster, crab, prawns, scallops and clams
cold pre-cooked prawns

What to be careful with

smoked fish, such as smoked salmon and trout

Important: Smoked fish and listeria

Due to a listeria outbreak linked to smoked fish, people at higher risk of serious infection (including people who are pregnant) should only eat smoked fish products that have been thoroughly cooked.

When cooking smoked fish products at home, make sure they are steaming hot all the way through.

Find out more about the listeria outbreak in smoked fish from the Food Standards Agency

What to limit

you should eat no more than 2 portions of oily fish a week, such as salmon, trout, mackerel or herring
you should eat no more than 2 tuna steaks (about 140g cooked or 170g raw) or 4 medium-size cans of tuna (about 140g when drained) per week

Information:

Tuna does not count as an oily fish

You can have 2 tuna steaks, or 4 medium-size cans of fish, as well as 2 portions of oily fish.

What to avoid

swordfish
marlin
shark
raw shellfish

Why

You should limit tuna because it has more mercury in it than other fish. If you eat too much mercury, it can be harmful to your unborn baby.

You should limit oily fish because they can have pollutants such as dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls in them. If you eat too much of these, they can be harmful to your unborn baby.

You should avoid raw shellfish because they can have harmful bacteria, viruses or toxins in them. These can make you unwell and give you food poisoning.

Other foods and drinks

Caffeine

You can have caffeine, but no more than 200mg per day.

There is:

100mg in a mug of instant coffee
140mg in a mug of filter coffee
75mg in a mug of tea (green tea can have the same amount of caffeine as regular tea)
40mg in a can of cola
80mg in a 250ml can of energy drink
less than 25mg in a 50g bar of plain dark chocolate
less than 10mg in a 50g bar of plain milk chocolate

Alcohol

Drinking alcohol in pregnancy can lead to long-term harm to your baby.

If you're pregnant or planning to get pregnant, the safest approach is to not drink alcohol at all.

This keeps risks to your baby to a minimum.

Herbal teas

You should drink no more than 4 cups of herbal tea a day.

Liquorice

Liquorice is safe to eat. But you should avoid liquorice root.

Fruits, vegetables and salads

Be careful with fruits, vegetables and salads as they can have soil on them, which can make you unwell.

Make sure to thoroughly wash all fruits, vegetables and salad ingredients.

Peanuts

You do not need to avoid eating peanuts when you're pregnant.

Only avoid eating peanuts if you're advised to by a healthcare professional or if you have a nut allergy.

Vitamins

Do not take high-dose multivitamin supplements, or any supplements with vitamin A in them.

Urgent advice: Call 111 if:

you feel unwell after eating one of the foods to avoid
you have signs of listeriosis or toxoplasmosis infection

Try not to worry if you've eaten one of the foods to avoid.

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Page last reviewed: 16 April 2020
Next review due: 16 April 2023

the whole truth about the fermented milk product

Pregnant women try to monitor their diet and include healthy foods containing a variety of vitamins and trace elements in their diet. Cheese is one such product. However, future mothers do not even realize that some types of cheese should not be eaten during pregnancy.

Natalya Chebakova

legion-media

Fermented milk products, which include cheese, are a source of calcium and protein, which is so necessary for mother and child during pregnancy. However, you need to be careful with some types of cheese.

Contents of the article

Do not self-medicate! In our articles, we collect the latest scientific data and the opinions of authoritative health experts. But remember: only a doctor can diagnose and prescribe treatment.

Can pregnant women eat cheese?

Most cheeses can be eaten during pregnancy. Hard cheeses such as cheddar and parmesan, as well as soft pasteurized cheeses, are safe in moderation.

Pasteurization is the heating of milk to a certain temperature to kill potentially harmful bacteria.

Cheese is a good source of calcium and protein, which strengthen bones and promote healthy growth of the baby in the womb.

A slice of cheese, along with whole grain crackers (or other complex carbohydrates), can help eliminate nausea, increase energy levels and mood, avoid headaches, and improve sleep.

However, you need to know the measure. Because cheese is also high in sodium and saturated fat. One serving of cheese should be 100 grams - about the size of a thumb.

Doctors recommend that pregnant women eat a total of three servings of dairy products, preferably low fat, per day, which include milk, yogurt, cottage cheese in addition to cheese.

The benefits of cheese for pregnant women

Each type of cheese has its own unique composition. Different varieties of this fermented milk product differ in the percentage of fat content and the content of nutrients.

Useful qualities common to most types of cheese:

high protein content, which is an integral part of blood, lymph, and also participates in the formation of embryonic tissues;
the ability to increase appetite, which is especially important in cases of toxicosis in pregnant women;
saturation with B vitamins, which are responsible for the proper growth of the fetus, improve metabolic processes, increase the energy reserves of the body;
high content of calcium, which strengthens bones, improves the condition of the skin, nails and hair;
low lactose, which is not well tolerated by many people;
beneficial effect on brain activity;
the ability to normalize blood pressure and have a sedative effect.

Cheeses such as Poshekhonsky and Hollandsky have a high energy value, so they are best consumed during breakfast.

Cheese made from yak milk contains folic acid, the most important element in the formation of all systems and organs of the baby, which reduces the risk of neural tube defects.

Adyghe cheese has a low fat content, so it is often recommended for pregnant women who are prone to gaining excess weight.

Fatty varieties can be included in the menu during pregnancy, but they are low in vitamins E and D. These vitamins are very important for the proper development of the baby in the womb, they are involved in the formation of his skeletal system, prevent the development of intrauterine anomalies, and also reduce the risk premature births and miscarriages.

What is the best cheese for pregnancy?

1. Hard cheese such as cheddar, russian, parmesan, maasdam, gouda, edam, and cheddar are the safest choices during pregnancy.

Hard cheese contains less moisture than soft cheese, making it less likely to grow potentially harmful bacteria, even if made from unpasteurized milk.

2. Pasteurized soft cheese during pregnancy is another win-win option.

Almost all cheeses sold in retail chains are pasteurized by default. You can come across unpasteurized cheese at the farmers' market or buy imported cheese at the grocery store.

During pregnancy, it is better to buy cheeses with labels that are produced in factories inspected by Rospotrebnadzor.

Safe soft cheeses (if pasteurized) are: creamy, cottage cheese, feta, Adyghe, mascarpone and philadelphia.

3. It is safe to eat any cheese that has been heated to steam, such as on pizza. Since Listeria grows at low temperatures, and dies at high temperatures.

Cheese to avoid during pregnancy

It is recommended to avoid unpasteurized soft cheese during pregnancy. This product may contain listeria bacteria, which cause listeriosis, a dangerous disease for pregnant women.

When Listeria crosses the placenta into the amniotic fluid, the embryo becomes infected. His death can occur both in the womb and immediately after birth.

A mother, being a carrier of the disease, can infect her baby during childbirth. Among the signs of the disease that can occur in a woman, nausea, chills, and muscle pain can be distinguished.

Listeria is most often found in soft cheeses and gourmet favorite blue cheeses. To protect herself and her baby from this dangerous bacterium, a woman should not include cheese products made from milk that has not undergone pasteurization in her diet.

Pregnant women are 10 times more likely to develop listeriosis than the general population. This infection can be transmitted to the unborn child and cause miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth, or death of the newborn.

The following types of cheese should be avoided by expectant mothers:

brie;
danablu, savoy, dor blue, roquefort, cambonzola and others molded;
shabishu;
camembert;
cheeses made from goat's and sheep's milk, not pasteurized.

Pasteurized cheese can also be contaminated with Listeria if produced in an unsanitary environment.

Processed cheeses are also not recommended for pregnant women, as they contain a lot of salt and have a high percentage of fat content.

Due to the high salt content, doctors do not advise the expectant mother to consume the Suluguni variety, as well as smoked sausage cheeses and other cheese products, which often contain preservatives and dyes.

Mozzarella and other pickled cheeses should not be eaten in large quantities.

If you are not sure if soft cheese is pasteurized, stop eating it.

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Do you like blue cheese?

Is it possible to eat cheese during pregnancy?

Cheese is a tasty and healthy product, beloved by many. That is why the statement of some doctors that any cheese is strictly forbidden to women during pregnancy can seriously spoil the mood. However, you should not despair - if you dig deeper, it turns out that everything is not so categorical. Below we will understand what are the benefits and harms of cheeses for pregnant women.

Which cheeses should be avoided during pregnancy? These are unpasteurized cheeses, which may contain Listeria monocyotogenes, the bacterium that causes listeriosis. Acute infectious disease is severe and is accompanied by chills, high fever, muscle pain, nausea and vomiting. Such a severe clinical picture can lead to a miscarriage or the development of severe pathologies in the fetus - given this, it is necessary to be extremely selective in choosing cheeses during childbearing.

The infectious bacterium lives in unpasteurized cheeses made from sheep's and goat's milk that have not undergone heat treatment. We are talking about soft types of cheese and varieties with mold: dor blue, brie, camembert, cambonzola, etc. Also at risk are cheeses with blue mold: Roquefort, Gorgonzola, Savoy cheese. Such products contain a lot of liquid and little acid, which is the most favorable environment for the development of Listeria monocyotogenes.

Why mold is harmful when carrying a child

In addition to the risk of getting sick with listeriosis, eating delicious marbled cheeses, you run the risk of experiencing all the delights of the impact on the body of "noble" mold. So, valuable blue mold, which gives cheeses such a refined taste, endows the product with a number of side qualities. Being a pure antibiotic, mold kills the beneficial microflora that inhabits the body, which can cause intestinal dysbacteriosis and disrupt the digestive tract.

An imbalance of water and lactic acid in moldy foods can lead to the growth of fungus in the body, which is also highly undesirable for a pregnant woman who is already in a vulnerable state. Given the foregoing, doctors strongly recommend abandoning "live" cheeses for the period of bearing a child.

Which cheeses are safe for pregnant women? Under the influence of high temperature and careful processing, pathogenic bacteria die, making the cheese not only tasty, but also safe.

Such cheeses include: gouda, maasdam, parmesan, cheddar, Poshekhonsky, etc. - all of them will not harm a pregnant woman, since the environment favorable for the life of bacteria is destroyed during high temperature processing. Eating hard cheeses, you will get the whole range of nutrients, saturate the body with calcium and, in addition, diversify your diet with a delicious product.

There is also good news for lovers of soft cheeses: there are varieties that pregnant women can safely include in their diet. These include delicious varieties such as feta, philadelphia, mascarpone, cottage cheese, goat cheese without rind (pasteurized), processed cheeses, etc. The technology for the production of such cheeses involves heat treatment, during which bacteria die. With soft cheeses, you can create various dishes, including delicious and healthy desserts - what could be better for a pregnant woman!