Can You Eat Brie While Pregnant?
Avoid brie unless it's cooked until steaming hot — soft, mould-ripened cheese can carry listeria.
The full answer
Brie is a soft, mould-ripened cheese with a white rind, and that mix of moisture and low acidity can let listeria grow. In the UK, the NHS says to cook brie even when it's made from pasteurised milk; US advice (FDA) says cheese made with pasteurised milk is okay. Listeriosis is rare but can be serious because it can reach the baby. The good news is that cooking solves it: brie baked until it's piping hot all the way through — in a tart, melted on toast, or baked whole until steaming — is safe, because heat kills listeria. A cold brie on a cheeseboard is the thing to skip. The same rule covers camembert and other soft, white-rind cheeses.
How to eat brie safely
- Baked until steaming hot throughout: safe
- Skip cold brie from a cheeseboard or sandwich
- Same rule applies to camembert and similar white-rind cheeses
When to avoid: Avoid uncooked brie; only eat it cooked until steaming hot.
Brie by trimester
| Stage | What changes |
|---|---|
| First trimester | Brie is a mould-ripened soft cheese, which is the category pregnancy guidance singles out — softer, less acidic conditions that suit listeria better than a hard cheese does. |
| Second trimester | Unchanged. Baked brie is the standard workaround and is genuinely fine when it's piping hot throughout. |
| Third trimester | Same guidance. A cheese board is the situation to think about; a hot baked dish is not. |
Common questions about brie in pregnancy
Can I eat brie while pregnant?
Cold brie is generally advised against because it's a mould-ripened soft cheese. Baked until steaming hot throughout, it's usually considered fine — which is why baked brie comes up so often as the answer.
Does it matter if it's pasteurised?
It depends where you live. US advice (FDA) says brie made with pasteurised milk is okay. The NHS says to cook it anyway, because the mould-ripening process creates conditions that suit listeria. That's why brie is treated differently from pasteurised cream cheese.
How hot does baked brie need to be?
Steaming hot all the way through, not just melted at the edges. Warm in the centre isn't enough.
The general rules on listeria, mercury, caffeine and alcohol are in our pregnancy safety guide, and you can track your pregnancy with the How Far Along Am I? calculator and the week-by-week guide.
Frequently asked questions
- Can you eat brie while pregnant?
- Avoid brie unless it's cooked until steaming hot — soft, mould-ripened cheese can carry listeria. Brie is a soft, mould-ripened cheese with a white rind, and that mix of moisture and low acidity can let listeria grow. In the UK, the NHS says to cook brie even when it's made from pasteurised milk; US advice (FDA) says cheese made with pasteurised milk is okay. Listeriosis is rare but can be serious because it can reach the baby. The good news is that cooking solves it: brie baked until it's piping hot all the way through — in a tart, melted on toast, or baked whole until steaming — is safe, because heat kills listeria. A cold brie on a cheeseboard is the thing to skip. The same rule covers camembert and other soft, white-rind cheeses.
- Why is brie something to be careful with in pregnancy?
- Brie is a soft, mould-ripened cheese with a white rind, and that mix of moisture and low acidity can let listeria grow. In the UK, the NHS says to cook brie even when it's made from pasteurised milk; US advice (FDA) says cheese made with pasteurised milk is okay. Listeriosis is rare but can be serious because it can reach the baby. The good news is that cooking solves it: brie baked until it's piping hot all the way through — in a tart, melted on toast, or baked whole until steaming — is safe, because heat kills listeria. A cold brie on a cheeseboard is the thing to skip. The same rule covers camembert and other soft, white-rind cheeses.
- When should I avoid brie during pregnancy?
- Avoid uncooked brie; only eat it cooked until steaming hot.
Sources
This answer was checked against the following public guidance. Advice can differ between countries; your midwife, doctor or pharmacist can apply it to you.