Can I eat cream cheese while pregnant?
Doola Scan's answer in the United StatesCream cheese isn't on the pregnancy lists of foods to avoid in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or Ireland, so Doola Scan shows No known issues for it. The NHS lists pasteurised cream cheese among the soft cheeses you can have in pregnancy, and the FDA asks you to check dairy labels for pasteurised milk. Cream cheese made from raw milk is the exception: it shows Avoid in the US, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland. New Zealand also asks for it in sealed packs, eaten within two days of opening.
Checked against Doola Scan's pregnancy rules · UpdatedCream cheese from the tub or block, on bagels, toast or in dips
No known issuesIn all six countriesBaked into a cheesecake
No known issuesIn all six countriesIn a no-bake cheesecake or a frosting
No known issuesIn all six countries
Cream cheese while pregnant: what each country says.
Each country's own pregnancy guidance on cream cheese, with a link to it. Doola Scan uses your country's first.
No known issuesNone of the six countries' pregnancy guidance names cream cheese.
United States
No known issuesCream cheese 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 issuesCream cheese 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 issuesCream cheese 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 cream cheese.
Check the pack says pasteurised
The FDA asks you to make sure all the dairy you eat in pregnancy is made with pasteurised milk, and to check the label. Most cream cheese lists pasteurised milk or cream in its ingredients. FDA
In New Zealand, use it within two days of opening
Health NZ asks for pasteurised cream cheese to be bought in sealed packs and eaten cold within two days of opening, or eaten cooked. Write the opening date on the tub if that helps. Health NZ
Keep it cold
The FDA asks for milk products to be kept refrigerated at 4°C (40°F). Put the tub back in the fridge after spreading, rather than leaving it out on the table. FDA
About cream 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.