Can You Eat Cheesecake When Pregnant?
Written by Jordan Morley · Reviewed against NHS foods-to-avoid guidance · Last updated 28 October 2026
Most cheesecake is safe in pregnancy — shop-bought and baked cheesecakes are fine. Check homemade no-bake versions for raw egg and pasteurised cheese.
Why is cheesecake safe in pregnancy?
Shop-bought cheesecake is made with pasteurised soft cheese and pasteurised egg, so it's safe in pregnancy. Baked cheesecake is cooked through, which is safer still. The only versions needing a check are homemade or artisan no-bake cheesecakes: they're fine if made with pasteurised soft cheese and no raw egg (or Lion eggs if raw egg is used).
You can also check the calorie content of cheesecake alongside its safety information. Also check medication safety during pregnancy if you're managing any conditions.
Which cheesecake is it? A decision table
Cheesecake comes in several forms and the risk differs between them. The NHS foods-to-avoid page (reviewed 15 June 2026) does not mention cheesecake. It does list 'pasteurised soft cheeses, such as cottage cheese, cream cheese, processed cheese spreads, mozzarella' as safe, and says Lion and Laid in Britain eggs can be eaten raw. The table applies those two rules to the types you meet (our reading).
| Type | Cheese check | Egg check | Verdict on that wording |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baked (New York, Basque, supermarket baked) | Pasteurised cream cheese | Cooked in the oven | Fits the NHS wording. Mother & Baby adds that baking kills bacteria and says most UK supermarket cheesecakes are safe |
| No-bake, set with gelatine or cream only | Pasteurised cream cheese | None | Fits, if the cream cheese is pasteurised |
| No-bake with raw egg | Pasteurised cream cheese | Lion or Laid in Britain, or pasteurised | Fits only with those eggs; unstamped raw egg does not |
| Shop-bought chilled or frozen | Pasteurised, usually | Usually baked or egg-free; check the label | Check the ingredients |
| Restaurant or cafe slice | Ask | Ask | If staff cannot say, choose something else |
Mother & Baby (undated) says baked cheesecake is safe even with unpasteurised cheese or raw eggs because baking kills bacteria. We have not adopted that claim, because the NHS pages we read do not say it, and our table keeps to the pasteurised-cheese rule.
How the rival pages differ
| Page | Baked vs unbaked | Other detail |
|---|---|---|
| Mother & Baby (undated) | Baked is safe; unbaked with raw egg or unpasteurised cheese is not | Homemade egg to 71°C; if you cannot check the ingredients, avoid |
| Healthline (US, 12 February 2021) | Baked is fine if eggs are fully cooked (suggests 160°F); avoid unbaked with raw egg | A 100 g frozen supermarket cheesecake has about 350 calories and 27.6 g fat; a cited 2018 study on sugar is about sugar generally, not cheesecake |
| Cheese Scientist on mascarpone (8 March 2025) | Baked cheesecakes are recommended when the egg content is unclear | Check mascarpone says 'made from pasteurised milk' |
Labels and extras to check
- Cheese: cream cheese is on the NHS safe list when pasteurised. Mascarpone on the Sainsbury's and M&S pages is labelled 'made with pasteurised milk'. Ricotta and other soft cheeses may differ, which Healthline says to check.
- Toppings: the cream or milk in a topping should be pasteurised too (Mother & Baby). A swirl of Camembert-style or blue cheese is a different cheese rule entirely.
- Alcohol: some recipes add liqueur. If the ingredients list it, it is uncooked unless the cake is baked with it.
- Gelatine: neither Mother & Baby nor Healthline discusses gelatine in pregnancy, so we say nothing about it.
Keeping leftovers
Cheesecake is a chilled dessert, so our fridge storage guide covers how long it keeps. If it contained raw egg or was left out for hours, throw it away rather than reheat or re-chill it.
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) — pasteurised soft cheeses such as cream cheese safe; Lion eggs raw; cheesecake not mentioned
- Mother & Baby: Can you eat cheesecake when pregnant? (undated, by Emily Gilbert) — rival: baked safe, unbaked with raw egg or unpasteurised cheese not; 71C; supermarket cheesecakes
- Healthline: Is it OK to eat cheesecake during pregnancy? (12 February 2021) — rival (US): baked fine, unbaked with raw egg avoid; pasteurised dairy; ricotta and mascarpone may differ
- Cheese Scientist: Is mascarpone safe during pregnancy? (8 March 2025) — mascarpone label check; baked cheesecake when egg unclear
- Sainsbury's: Mascarpone full fat soft cheese 250g (product page) — mascarpone made with pasteurised milk
- Ocado: M&S Mascarpone (product page) — mascarpone made with pasteurised milk
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Pregnancy essentials
Pregnancy food guide
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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 →Cheesecake: the other answers on this site
| Question | Short answer (links to the full page) |
|---|---|
| In the fridge | 5–7 days in the fridge |
| In the freezer | Yes — freezes well (best quality for 3–6 months) |
Common questions
Can I eat cheesecake in the first trimester?
Yes — Cheesecake is safe at every stage of pregnancy, including the first trimester.
Is a small amount of cheesecake OK during pregnancy?
No limit applies. Cheesecake is not on the NHS list of foods to avoid or limit in pregnancy.
I accidentally ate cheesecake while pregnant — what should I do?
No action needed. Cheesecake is safe during pregnancy.
Is cooked cheesecake safe in pregnancy?
Yes. Cheesecake is safe in pregnancy. Only the usual rules apply: cook it properly where it needs cooking, keep chilled food chilled, and eat it before the use-by date.
Is baked cheesecake safe when pregnant?
On the NHS wording, yes if the cream cheese is pasteurised and the egg is cooked in the oven. Mother & Baby says baking kills bacteria and that most UK supermarket cheesecakes are safe.
Is no-bake cheesecake safe when pregnant?
It depends on the recipe. Without raw egg and with pasteurised cream cheese it fits the NHS wording. With raw egg it fits only if the eggs are British Lion or Laid in Britain.
Do I need to avoid cheesecake with soft cheese toppings?
Only if the topping contains a cheese on the avoid or be-careful list, such as unpasteurised soft cheese or mould-ripened cheese. Cream cheese is on the NHS safe list when pasteurised.
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.