Is Blue cheese safe during pregnancy?
OK only if the label says made with pasteurized milk — or cook it until steaming hot. Avoid raw-milk blue cheese.
What the sources say
US guidance (CDC, FDA, Mayo Clinic): blue cheese made from unpasteurized (raw) milk is a Listeria risk in pregnancy, so choose cheese labeled as made with pasteurized milk. NHS is stricter and advises eating mould-ripened or soft blue cheeses like this only when cooked until steaming hot, even if pasteurized. Cooking to 165°F or until steaming hot (for example, baked) is the most cautious option. No special restriction while breastfeeding (CDC).
Common alternatives
Also listed as
bleu cheese, gorgonzola, roquefort, stilton, danish blue, cambozola, blue cheese dressing, blue cheese crumbles, maytag blue
Sources
- CDC: Safer Food Choices for Pregnant Women
- FDA: Food Safety for Moms-to-Be At-a-Glance
- Mayo Clinic: Pregnancy nutrition: Foods to avoid during pregnancy
- NHS: Foods to avoid in pregnancy
- CDC: Maternal Diet and Breastfeeding
Last reviewed . This is general information, not medical advice. Ask your doctor or midwife about your own situation.