Certain types of cheese are off the menu for nine months, namely those with a high water or mould content, including soft cheese with blue mould, uncooked soft white cheese, and unpasteurised goat’s cheese – these should all be avoided during pregnancy.
What cheese can't you eat during pregnancy?
Soft cheese with blue mould such as Roquefort, Danish blue, and gorgonzola should be avoided completely.
Soft cheeses with a white mould rind such as brie and camembert are also off the menu unless they have been cooked at a very high temperature – above 70 degrees celsius.
Goat's cheese and cheese made from sheep are often unpasteurised.
However hard cheese (cheddar and parmesan) and those made with pasteurised milk, like feta, are ok to eat. As are processed cheeses, spreads and desserts made with pasteurised cheese.
Can you eat goat's cheese when pregnant?
You must not eat the goat's cheese commonly called “chèvre” and often served in restaurants in salads. If you see “goat's cheese salad” on a menu, chèvre is probably what will be used, so play safe and avoid it.
The NHS advise, however, that you can eat cooked goat's cheese, as it comes in tarts and pizzas. Cooking all the way through, so it’s steaming hot, kills any bacteria which could be harmful. Plus, this makes it taste delicious.
Can you eat feta cheese when pregnant?
As long as it's been made with pasteurised milk, feta is safe to eat during pregnancy. The same rule applies to halloumi – which is also made with ewe's milk – mozzarella and ricotta. These cheeses do not pose a risk to you or your baby as long as they are pasteurised.
Most cheese bought from major supermarkets and household brands will be pasteurised – and if they’re not, it should be listed on the label. Always check the label to be on the safe side. If you’re shopping at a farmers' market or deli, then ask the supplier if the cheese is pasteurised – they should know the details of its production.
Can you eat brie and camembert when pregnant?
Soft cheeses with a white mould rind, such as brie, camembert and chèvre (as mentioned above as a goat's cheese), should not be eaten during pregnancy unless they have been cooked at a very high temperature.
These cheeses contain bacteria which could cause listeriosis and, although infection is rare (there were 169 cases in the UK in 2015), it’s worth noting that pregnant women are 20 times more likely than other healthy adults to get listeriosis.