Can You Eat Brie When Pregnant?
Written by Jordan Morley · Reviewed against NHS foods-to-avoid guidance · Last updated 28 October 2026
NHS guidance says avoid Brie during pregnancy unless it is thoroughly cooked until piping hot, because of the risk of listeria.
Why is brie a concern in pregnancy?
Brie is a soft cow's-milk cheese from the Île-de-France region, with a bloomy white rind and a mild, buttery flavour that gets runnier as it ripens. Soft cheeses with a white rind are less acidic and hold more moisture than hard cheeses, which makes them an ideal environment for listeria bacteria to grow. Listeriosis in pregnancy is rare, but even a mild infection can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth or serious illness in a newborn baby, which is why the NHS advises avoiding these cheeses while pregnant.
You can also check the calorie content of brie alongside its safety information. Also check medication safety during pregnancy if you're managing any conditions.
The exception
Brie is safe to eat during pregnancy if it is cooked until piping hot all the way through — for example baked Brie that is steaming in the middle. Thorough cooking kills listeria bacteria.
Does pasteurised brie count? Not under UK advice
The NHS puts brie, camembert and chèvre in a group it calls mould-ripened soft cheeses 'with a white coating on the outside' and says they must be thoroughly cooked. There is no 'unless pasteurised' in that line, which is different from feta, mozzarella and halloumi, where the NHS says pasteurised is fine. Tommy's (page reviewed 6 September 2024) spells it out: 'pasteurised or unpasteurised' white-rind cheeses go under 'avoid unless cooked until steaming hot'. NHS Wales (updated 23 July 2026) and nidirect (modified April 2025) give the same rule.
Many US pages frame it the other way round. Happiest Baby (7 August 2025) says brie is safe when made with pasteurized milk and heated until steaming hot, tells readers to eat only brie labelled pasteurized, and also warns that even pasteurized brie is a listeria risk if served cold or poorly stored. On a UK pack the practical rule is simple: the cooking is the safety step, and the pasteurised label alone is not.
| Pack we checked (28 Oct 2026) | What the retailer page says | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Waitrose Essential French Brie | 'Soft mould ripened cheese made from pasteurised cow's milk' | Pasteurised, but still a white-rind brie: cook it until steaming hot (NHS, Tommy's) |
| Waitrose No.1 Rouzaire Brie de Meaux | 'Made with raw cow's milk'. Warning: 'Unsuitable for pregnant women, children, the elderly and anyone with low resistance to infection' | Raw-milk brie. We would leave it out of a pregnancy cheeseboard entirely and pick a pasteurised brie to bake instead |
Brie dishes, one by one
The NHS rule that matters is 'any cheese that's been cooked until steaming hot, including soft or blue cheese' is safe. Most brie problems come from dishes that look cooked but are only warm in the middle.
| How the brie is served | Verdict | Check |
|---|---|---|
| Cold on a cheeseboard, with crackers or in a salad | Avoid | Cold brie has not been cooked |
| Baked whole (a wheel in the oven) | Fine when steaming hot all the way through | Cut into the centre: the middle is the last part to heat |
| Brie en croûte or in a pastry parcel | Fine only if the centre is steaming hot | Pastry can brown long before the cheese in the middle is hot |
| On a pizza, in a hot toastie or melted on a burger | Fine if it arrives hot and melted through | Not a lukewarm slice that has sat in a box |
| Cold in a pre-packed sandwich, wrap or salad | Avoid | A pack kept chilled and eaten before the use-by date is the NHS advice for permitted cheeses; brie is not one of them unless cooked |
| Baked brie that has gone cold, then reheated | Reheat until steaming hot, or bin it | Our judgement: cooled cheese is no longer 'cooked until steaming hot' |
| Brie and cranberry canapé from a party tray | Avoid unless the brie was baked and is served hot | Ask the caterer |
How hot is 'steaming hot'?
The NHS gives no thermometer figure for cheese. Romper (15 November 2017) says heating soft cheese to about 160°F (71°C) kills listeria and attributes that to the European Food Safety Authority; we could not open the EFSA document, so treat it as a rival's report. The New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries gives over 75°C as the temperature for reheating leftovers in pregnancy. If you want a number for a probe thermometer, 75°C in the centre meets both figures. Happiest Baby gives no temperature at all, which leaves readers guessing.
Ate brie cold without realising?
The NHS says foods that may carry listeria do not always contain it, and that you do not need to do anything unless you get symptoms (fever, aches, chills, sickness, diarrhoea, stomach ache or reduced baby movement). If you do, contact your midwife, GP or NHS 111 urgently. The risk from one portion is low, and nidirect says not to worry too much about an accident. If you are unsure which cheese you ate, keep the pack or take a photo of the label.
Sources checked
Everything in the sections above was checked against these pages on 28 October 2026.
- NHS: Foods to avoid in pregnancy (page last reviewed 15 June 2026) — brie, camembert, chèvre: mould-ripened with white coating must be thoroughly cooked; any cheese cooked until steaming hot is safe; last reviewed 15 June 2026
- Tommy's: Foods to avoid in pregnancy (last reviewed 6 September 2024) — pasteurised or unpasteurised mould-ripened soft cheeses with a white coating: avoid unless cooked until steaming hot
- NHS Wales 111: Foods to avoid in pregnancy (last updated 23 July 2026) — same rule on the NHS Wales page (updated 23 July 2026)
- nidirect (Northern Ireland government): Foods to avoid in pregnancy (modified 3 April 2025) — same rule; do not worry too much about an accidental serving
- NHS: Listeriosis — do nothing unless symptoms; symptoms; contact midwife, GP or 111
- Waitrose: Essential French Brie (product page) — product description: made from pasteurised cow's milk (checked 28 October 2026)
- Waitrose: No.1 Rouzaire Brie de Meaux (product page) — product description: raw cow's milk; unsuitable for pregnant women (checked 28 October 2026)
- Happiest Baby: Can I eat brie during pregnancy? (7 August 2025) — rival: pasteurized-and-heated framing, no temperature
- Romper: baked brie while pregnant (15 November 2017) — rival: 160°F / 71°C attributed to EFSA (not verified)
- New Zealand MPI: What to eat when pregnant — New Zealand: reheat over 75°C
Safe swaps
As an Amazon Associate, CJ Affiliate and AWIN publisher we earn from qualifying purchases. Links below are affiliate links.
Pregnancy essentials
Pregnancy food guide
A paper reference for the fridge door — no more mid-supermarket googling.
Check Price →Digital food thermometer
Cooked through means 75°C in the middle — a probe ends the guesswork.
Check Price →Links open your local Amazon store. We may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Want to know exactly what's in your food? Our ingredient checker covers E-numbers, allergens and vegan status.
More pregnancy essentials
Baby-safe food thermometer
Useful for pregnancy cooking checks and later for baby food.
Check Price →Brie: the other answers on this site
| Question | Short answer (links to the full page) |
|---|---|
| While breastfeeding | Safe |
| In the fridge (Brie (Opened)) | 1–2 weeks in the fridge |
| In the freezer | Yes — freezes well (best quality for 6 months) |
Common questions
Can I eat brie in the first trimester?
The NHS advice applies to all stages of pregnancy, including the first trimester. Uncooked Brie should be avoided from the moment you find out you are pregnant right through to birth.
Is a small amount of brie OK during pregnancy?
There is no amount of uncooked Brie that is considered risk-free during pregnancy. The chance of listeria being present is low, but because the consequences can be serious, the NHS advises avoiding it entirely unless cooked.
I accidentally ate brie while pregnant — what should I do?
Try not to panic — the risk from a single portion is low. Most people who eat Brie while pregnant will be absolutely fine. Watch for flu-like symptoms such as a high temperature, aches or chills over the next few weeks, and speak to your midwife or GP if you feel unwell or are worried.
Is cooked brie safe in pregnancy?
Yes — thoroughly cooked Brie is safe during pregnancy. It must be piping hot all the way through, not just melted. Baked Brie, or Brie cooked until steaming on a pizza or in a tart, is fine.
Is pasteurised brie safe in pregnancy?
Not cold. The NHS and Tommy's both say white-rind cheeses like brie must be thoroughly cooked, and Tommy's says that applies to pasteurised and unpasteurised brie alike. Some US pages say pasteurised brie is safe if heated until steaming hot, which is consistent: the heating is what makes it safe.
Can I eat brie on a pizza or in a toastie?
Yes, if it comes out hot and melted all the way through, because the NHS says any cheese cooked until steaming hot, including soft cheese, is safe. A lukewarm or cold slice is not the same thing.
Is baked brie safe when pregnant?
Yes, if the middle is steaming hot, not just the edges. Cut into the centre to check. If the brie goes cold and you reheat it, heat it until steaming hot again.
Is Brie de Meaux safe in pregnancy?
Brie de Meaux is a raw-milk brie in the Waitrose pack we checked ('made with raw cow's milk', marked unsuitable for pregnant women). We would avoid it altogether. The NHS does say any cheese cooked until steaming hot is safe, but a pasteurised brie is the easier choice to bake.
What about camembert and chèvre?
Same rule. The NHS names brie, camembert and chèvre together as white-coated mould-ripened cheeses that must be thoroughly cooked. See <a href='/can-you-eat-camembert-when-pregnant/'>camembert</a> and <a href='/can-you-eat-baked-camembert-when-pregnant/'>baked camembert</a>.
Related answers
Primary source: NHS foods-to-avoid guidance.
General information only, not medical advice: see the medical disclaimer. Feeling unwell after eating something? Contact NHS 111 or your GP.