Can I eat cheddar cheese while pregnant?
Doola Scan's answer in the United StatesCheddar cheese shows No known issues in Doola Scan in all six countries, and the NHS, the CDC, Health Canada and Australia's Pregnancy, Birth and Baby all name cheddar among the cheeses you can have. The NHS accepts hard cheeses such as cheddar whether pasteurised or unpasteurised, while the CDC and Health Canada name cheddar made with pasteurised milk. Cheddar made from raw milk shows Avoid in Doola Scan in the US, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland, and Check in the UK and Canada.
Checked against Doola Scan's pregnancy rules · UpdatedCheddar in a block, sliced or grated, mild or white
No known issuesIn all six countriesMelted cheddar, in a grilled cheese or on toast
No known issuesIn all six countries
Cheddar cheese while pregnant: what each country says.
Each country's own pregnancy guidance on cheddar cheese, with a link to it. Doola Scan uses your country's first.
No known issuesNone of the six countries' pregnancy guidance names cheddar cheese.
United States
No known issuesCheddar made from raw (unpasteurised) milk- FDADo not drink raw milk or eat foods made with unpasteurized milk during pregnancy.Source
- FoodSafety.gov (HHS)Avoid raw milk; only pasteurised milk and milk products.Source
- USDA FSISNever drink raw milk.Source
- FDADo not eat any cheese made with unpasteurized (raw) milk; no exception for hard or cooked cheese.Source
- CDCAvoid raw-milk cheese unless heated to 165 F or until steaming hot.Source
United Kingdom
No known issuesCanada
No known issuesCheddar made from raw (unpasteurised) milk- CPSAvoid unpasteurized milk, cheese and dairy products.Source
- Health CanadaAvoid raw or unpasteurized dairy products; choose pasteurized.Source
- CPSAvoid unpasteurized cheese and dairy products.Source
- Health CanadaAvoid raw or unpasteurized dairy products, including uncooked hard cheese; cooked cheese is fine.Source
Australia
No known issuesCheddar made from raw (unpasteurised) milk- Better Health Channel (Victoria)Avoid unpasteurised milk and foods made from it.Source
- FSANZAvoid raw milk and raw-milk cheeses; choose pasteurised dairy.Source
- NSW Food AuthorityDo not drink or use unpasteurised (raw) dairy.Source
- NSW HealthDo not eat unpasteurised milk or milk products.Source
- Pregnancy, Birth and Baby (Australian Government Dept of Health)Only dairy made from pasteurised milk.Source
- Pregnancy, Birth and Baby (Australian Government Dept of Health)Only dairy made from pasteurised milk; no cooked unpasteurised exception.Source
- NSW Food AuthoritySoft and semi-soft cheeses only if cooked to at least 75°C.Source
New Zealand
No known issuesIreland
No known issues
Before you eat cheddar cheese.
Outside the UK, check the label says pasteurised milk
The CDC names cheddar made with pasteurized milk among the hard cheeses to choose, and Health Canada lists pasteurized cheddar among firm cheeses you can eat uncooked. Both list uncooked raw-milk cheese among those to avoid. CDC
Keep it in the fridge
Health NZ lists hard cheeses such as cheddar and parmesan as OK to eat in pregnancy and asks for them to be stored in the fridge. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby names cheddar among hard cheeses you can eat. Health NZ
About cheddar cheese
in pregnancy.
Not sure about a meal? Scan it.
Point Doola at a plate, a menu or a label. It checks every ingredient against your country's pregnancy guidance and shows its sources. Food scans are free, 3 a day.
Download app nowDoola shows what official guidance says; it never diagnoses. No known issues means none of these countries' pregnancy guidance names it, not a promise that a food is safe.