Are mozzarella, halloumi and feta safe in pregnancy?
Mozzarella, halloumi, feta - what are the rules on these cheeses when pregnant?
In a nutshell
Yes, these soft cheeses are safe to eat - as long as they're pasteurised.
The expert view
Fancy a pizza topped with creamy mozzarella, some grilled halloumi or uncooked feta?
The good news is that these cheeses are perfectly safe to eat when pregnant, and a great source of calcium.
The NHS recommends that, except for mould-ripened soft cheeses, such as Brie and Camembert, all other soft types of cheese are OK to eat provided they're made from pasteurised milk. They're safe whether cooked or eaten raw.
This safe list of soft cheeses includes:
More like this
- Mozzarella
- Feta
- Halloumi
- Havarti
- Cream cheese
- Paneer
- Ricotta
- Mascarpone
- Processed cheese eg Dairylea, Laughing Cow, Primula
- Quark
- Boursin
- Cottage cheese
Nutritionist Dr Rana Conway adds: "The rules for organic cheese are the same as for non-organic cheese."
Mums writing in our forum say
"Just the protein side of things that has been letting me down. Thank God for halloumi cheese as I seem to be ok on that and try to have a cracker with a slice of cheese every now and again." MaddyW
"I have been using pregnancy as an excuse to get extra mozzarella whenever we order pizza - yum!" Lilmissbride
So what other cheeses can I eat when I'm pregnant?
What makes Stilton ok to eat in pregnancy?
Am I safe eating pasteurised Brie or Camembert when I'm pregnant?
Authors
Magda Ibrahim is a freelance writer who has written for publications including The Times and Sunday Times, The Sun, Time Out, and the London Evening Standard, as well for MadeForMums.
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