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Is this safe in pregnancy?

Is soft cheese safe during pregnancy? With caution — one word on the label decides it

Medically reviewed by Zeinab Alkashaf · August 11, 2026

Quick answer

With caution — and it comes down to one word: pasteurised. Soft cheeses such as feta, brie, blue cheese, and local white cheese are safe during pregnancy if made from pasteurised milk, and best avoided if made from raw, unpasteurised milk. The reason is listeria bacteria, which grow in soft cheeses that are high in moisture and low in acidity, and which carry higher risks in pregnancy than outside it. And one practical point removes a lot of worry: cooking solves the problem — cheese cooked until steaming hot, as on pizza or in pastries, is safe even if it is the kind you would avoid cold.

How to read the label

Look for the word "pasteurised" on the packaging. If it is there, the cheese is safe whatever its type or softness. If it says "raw milk" or "lait cru", leave it. And if nothing is stated, the practical rule is that industrially packaged cheese in shops is usually pasteurised, with greater doubt around:

  • Local cheese sold by weight from small shops or the countryside without packaging or a label
  • Homemade cheese or cheese made in villages from fresh milk — the most common form of this question in our region
  • Imported artisan cheeses that advertise being made from raw milk, common among French cheeses
  • Cheese cut in front of you at a shop's cheese counter, where contamination can transfer between varieties

    • And if you have a local cheese you love and are unsure of its source, do not necessarily deny yourself: cook it. Akkawi or Nabulsi in a hot pastry, feta melted into a baked dish, or cheese on pizza — all of these are safe, because heat destroys listeria.

    Why listeria specifically?

    Listeria is unusual in two ways. First, it grows in the cold — the fridge does not stop it the way it stops most other bacteria, which is why chilled ready-to-eat foods deserve attention. Second, a pregnant woman's body is less able to fight it because of the natural immune changes of pregnancy. It may cause you mild flu-like symptoms — fever, muscle aches, fatigue — while being far more serious for the baby. Infection is rare and there is no need to panic, but its rarity is exactly what makes simple prevention sensible: a small step against an unlikely but heavy outcome.

    Myth Local cheese is natural and made the old way, so it is purer and healthier for a pregnant woman than packaged cheese full of preservatives.

    Fact This is one of those cases where the "natural is better" logic turns on itself. Pasteurisation is not a substance added to milk, but a brief heating that kills harmful bacteria followed by cooling — it adds nothing and takes away little of nutritional note. So "packaged" here is not less natural, only less risky. Local cheese made from pasteurised milk is entirely safe and tastes no different; the issue is not the traditional method or the shop you buy from, but the state of the milk before production. If your local cheese is from pasteurised milk, enjoy it, and if you do not know, cook it.

    When to ask your doctor

    Call your doctor if you develop fever, muscle aches, chills, or headache after eating unpasteurised cheese or milk, especially if the symptoms persist. Do not assume it is a passing flu — listeria infection is diagnosed with a blood test and treated with antibiotics, and early treatment matters. Also see your doctor if you notice a change in the baby's movements or contractions after such symptoms. And do not feel embarrassed to mention what you ate; that information helps your doctor and is not a judgement on you.

    Frequently asked questions

    Is feta cheese safe during pregnancy?
    Yes, if it is made from pasteurised milk — which is the case for most packaged feta in shops. Check the label, and avoid it if it is from raw milk or of unknown origin, or cook it until steaming hot.
    Is cheese on pizza and pastries safe?
    Yes. Cooking until the cheese is steaming hot destroys listeria, which is why cooked cheese is safe even if it is a type you would avoid cold. Just make sure the food is genuinely hot, not lukewarm.
    What if I ate unpasteurised cheese without knowing?
    Infection is very rare, and the likelihood is that everything is fine. Monitor yourself for a few weeks, and call your doctor if you develop fever, muscle aches, or flu-like symptoms, since listeria is diagnosed with a blood test and treated with antibiotics.

    Sources

    This content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.

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