Can I eat cottage cheese while pregnant?
Doola Scan's answer in the United StatesCottage 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 name pasteurised cottage cheese among the cheeses you can have. What to check is the milk: cottage cheese made from raw milk shows Avoid in the US, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland and Check in the UK and Canada. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby also asks for plain cottage cheese to be kept in the fridge and eaten within 2 days of opening.
Checked against Doola Scan's pregnancy rules · UpdatedCottage cheese from the tub, plain, with fruit or on toast
No known issuesIn all six countriesCottage cheese baked into lasagna, pancakes or a bake
No known issuesIn all six countries
Cottage cheese while pregnant: what each country says.
Each country's own pregnancy guidance on cottage cheese, with a link to it. Doola Scan uses your country's first.
No known issuesNone of the six countries' pregnancy guidance names cottage cheese.
United States
No known issuesCottage cheese made from raw (unpasteurised) milk, such as farm-made- 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 issuesCottage cheese made from raw (unpasteurised) milk, such as farm-made- 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 issuesCottage cheese made from raw (unpasteurised) milk, such as farm-made- 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 cottage cheese.
Check the tub says pasteurised milk
The CDC lists cottage cheese made with pasteurized milk among the cheeses to choose, and any cheese made with raw milk among those to avoid. Look for pasteurised on the tub before you buy. CDC
Keep it in the fridge and finish it within 2 days
Australia's Pregnancy, Birth and Baby lists plain cottage cheese among the cheeses you can eat, stored in the fridge and eaten within 2 days of opening. Write the opening day on the lid if that helps. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby
If it's raw milk, follow your country's line
The FDA says not to eat cheese made with unpasteurised milk in pregnancy. Health Canada asks you to avoid uncooked cheese made from unpasteurised milk, and says any cheese is fine cooked, as in a casserole. FDA
About cottage cheese
in pregnancy.
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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.