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Can I eat Greek yogurt while pregnant?

No known issues Doola Scan's answer in the United States

Greek yogurt made from pasteurised milk isn't on the pregnancy avoid lists of the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or Ireland, so Doola Scan shows No known issues. The one thing that changes it is raw milk: all six countries advise against unpasteurised dairy, yogurt included, because it can carry listeria. So the check is the label, which should say pasteurised milk. Skyr and other strained yogurts are the same.

Checked against Doola Scan's pregnancy rules · Updated

  • Greek yogurt from the shop, plain or flavoured

    No known issuesIn all six countries

  • Skyr and other thick strained yogurts

    No known issuesIn all six countries

  • Greek yogurt with honey or granola

    No known issuesIn all six countries
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What each country says

Greek yogurt while pregnant: what each country says.

Each country's own pregnancy guidance on Greek yogurt, with a link to it. Doola Scan uses your country's first.

  • No known issues

    None of the six countries' pregnancy guidance names Greek yogurt.

  • United States

    No known issues
    Yogurt made from raw (unpasteurised) milk, such as farm or homemade raw-milk yogurt
    • 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

  • United Kingdom

    No known issues
    Yogurt made from raw (unpasteurised) milk, such as farm or homemade raw-milk yogurt
    • FSAPregnant women should not consume raw drinking milk or cream.Source
    • NHSRaw milk can carry listeria and other harmful bacteria.Source

  • Canada

    No known issues
    Yogurt made from raw (unpasteurised) milk, such as farm or homemade raw-milk yogurt
    • CPSAvoid unpasteurized milk, cheese and dairy products.Source
    • Health CanadaAvoid raw or unpasteurized dairy products; choose pasteurized.Source

  • Australia

    No known issues
    Yogurt made from raw (unpasteurised) milk, such as farm or homemade raw-milk yogurt
    • 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

  • New Zealand

    No known issues
    Yogurt made from raw (unpasteurised) milk, such as farm or homemade raw-milk yogurt
    • Health NZAvoid unpasteurised dairy products.Source

  • Ireland

    No known issues
    Yogurt made from raw (unpasteurised) milk, such as farm or homemade raw-milk yogurt
    • HSEAvoid unpasteurised dairy (milk and cheese).Source
    • FSAIDo not drink raw milk without boiling it first.Source
What to check

Before you eat Greek yogurt.

  1. Check the label says pasteurised milk

    Read the ingredients on the pot for pasteurised milk. The FDA asks you to make sure all the dairy you eat in pregnancy is made with pasteurised milk, and says to check the label. FDA

  2. Skip yogurt made from raw milk

    Farm-shop, market or homemade yogurt made from raw milk is a different product. The NHS lists unpasteurised yoghurt, from cows', sheep's or goats' milk, among foods to avoid in pregnancy, because unpasteurised dairy may contain listeria. NHS

  3. Keep it in the fridge

    The FDA asks for milk products to be kept refrigerated at 40°F (4°C). Put an opened pot back in the fridge rather than leaving it out. FDA

Questions

About Greek yogurt
in pregnancy.

The label tells you: look for pasteurised milk in the ingredients. The FDA asks you to check that every dairy product you eat in pregnancy is made with pasteurised milk, and the NHS lists any pasteurised yoghurt among the dairy you can have.

Skyr isn't named in any of these six countries' pregnancy guidance, so Doola Scan shows No known issues for it, as for Greek yogurt. The same check applies: pasteurised milk on the label.

Doola doesn't rate brands. Read the pot's ingredients for pasteurised milk: if it's there, it's Greek yogurt made from pasteurised milk, which Doola Scan shows as No known issues in all six countries.

The NHS says dairy foods such as yoghurt are important in pregnancy, because they contain calcium and other nutrients you and your baby need. It suggests yoghurts that are low in fat and sugar.

Yogurt made from raw milk is Avoid in all six countries in Doola Scan. The FDA, NHS, Health Canada, Australia's Pregnancy Birth and Baby, Health NZ and Ireland's HSE all advise against unpasteurised dairy in pregnancy. Homemade yogurt made from pasteurised milk is a different case.

The dairy guidance is the same all through pregnancy: pasteurised yogurt is not on the avoid lists, unpasteurised is. No country changes it by trimester.

Honey and granola aren't named in these countries' pregnancy guidance, so Doola Scan shows No known issues for Greek yogurt with them. The NHS suggests keeping sugar low in yoghurts.

El yogur griego de leche pasteurizada no está en las listas de alimentos a evitar de ninguno de los seis países. Revisa la etiqueta: el yogur de leche cruda (sin pasteurizar) aparece como Avoid en los seis.

Yes. Take a photo of the pot's label, and Doola Scan checks each ingredient against your country's pregnancy guidance. Food scans are free, 3 a day.
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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.

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Doola 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.