Can You Eat Cream Cheese When Pregnant?
Written by Jordan Morley · Reviewed against NHS foods-to-avoid guidance · Last updated 28 October 2026
Yes — cream cheese is safe during pregnancy as long as it is made from pasteurised milk. Check the label for the word pasteurised.
Why is cream cheese safe in pregnancy?
The NHS confirms that soft cheeses like cream cheese are safe to eat during pregnancy as long as they are made from pasteurised milk. The NHS names pasteurised milk as the condition, so the label is what to check: some UK product pages we read state 'made with pasteurised milk' and others do not, and not every cream cheese is pasteurised. Check the label, and ask about products from delis, farm shops, markets and restaurants.
You can also check the calorie content of cream cheese alongside its safety information. Also check medication safety during pregnancy if you're managing any conditions.
The exception
Avoid cream cheese made from unpasteurised (raw) milk. If a label doesn't confirm pasteurisation, choose a different product.
The NHS rule and what it leaves out
Cream cheese is named on the NHS foods-to-avoid page (reviewed 15 June 2026) among 'pasteurised soft cheeses, such as cottage cheese, cream cheese, processed cheese spreads, mozzarella'. Tommy's and nidirect agree. What none of them says is what to do with cream cheese that has something else in it, which is where most of the real-life questions come from.
Plain cream cheese: the label wording
Two retailer pages for Philadelphia Original say the same thing: the Morrisons 280g family pack and the Sainsbury's 4 x 140g mini tubs both list 'Full fat soft CHEESE, salt, stabiliser (guar gum), acid (citric acid)' and state 'Made with pasteurised milk'. The Morrisons page gives no days after opening, and the Sainsbury's page says only 'keep refrigerated', so read the lid or the pack for the open-tub life.
Flavoured, spread and sandwich: a decision table
The NHS wording is about the cheese. These are the common things stirred in or served with it. Where the NHS speaks to the ingredient, we quote it. Where it does not, the table says so and gives our reading.
| Cream cheese with... | What the sources say | Reading (ours) |
|---|---|---|
| Chives, garlic and herbs | Nothing on any avoid list we read | Fine if the cheese is pasteurised |
| Smoked salmon (spreads, bagels, blinis) | The NHS says cold-smoked and cured fish 'like smoked salmon' must be cooked until steaming hot. See smoked salmon | Treat the salmon as smoked salmon; a bagel with cold smoked salmon is not covered by the cream cheese rule |
| Raw fish in sushi (a 'Philadelphia roll') | Raw fish is on the avoid list for pregnancy; see sushi | The cream cheese is fine; the fish decides |
| Ham, bacon or cured meat in a wrap | The NHS says cold cured meats such as salami and chorizo should be cooked until steaming hot; pre-packaged sandwiches with meat should be kept chilled and eaten before the use-by date | Check the meat, not the cream cheese |
| Baked in a cheesecake, frosting or dip | Pasteurised soft cheeses are safe; baked dishes also cooked through | See cheesecake; for dips, keep chilled and eat before the date |
| Blue or mould-ripened cheese swirled in | The NHS puts mould-ripened soft cheeses with a white coating under 'be careful with' | That cheese's rule applies, not the cream cheese rule |
Keeping it
Opened tubs of cream cheese are chilled food: keep them refrigerated and eat before the use-by date on the lid. Our storage guide covers how long a tub lasts once opened. A tub that has sat out at room temperature is a general food-safety question rather than a pregnancy-specific one.
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; smoked fish cooked until steaming hot; cured meats; mould-ripened soft cheeses
- Tommy's: Foods to avoid in pregnancy (last reviewed 6 September 2024) — cream cheese in 'eat if pasteurised' group
- nidirect: Foods to avoid in pregnancy (last updated 3 April 2025) — cream cheese safe as a pasteurised soft cheese
- Morrisons: Philadelphia Original Soft Cheese Family Pack 280g (product page) — Philadelphia Original: ingredients; made with pasteurised milk; keep refrigerated
- Sainsbury's: Philadelphia Original mini tub pack 4 x 140g (product page) — Philadelphia Original mini tubs: made with pasteurised milk; keep refrigerated
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 →Cream Cheese: the other answers on this site
| Question | Short answer (links to the full page) |
|---|---|
| While breastfeeding | Safe |
| In the fridge (Cream Cheese (Opened)) | 2 weeks in the fridge |
Common questions
Can I eat cream cheese in the first trimester?
Yes — pasteurised cream cheese is safe at every stage of pregnancy, including the first trimester.
Is a small amount of cream cheese OK during pregnancy?
You don't need to limit pasteurised cream cheese — it can be eaten freely as part of a balanced pregnancy diet.
I accidentally ate cream cheese while pregnant — what should I do?
If it was made from pasteurised milk, there is nothing to worry about. If you think you may have eaten an unpasteurised version, the risk from a single portion is still low — watch for flu-like symptoms and speak to your midwife or GP if you feel unwell.
Is cooked cream cheese safe in pregnancy?
Yes — pasteurised cream cheese is safe cooked or uncooked, and cooking any cream cheese until piping hot makes it safe regardless of pasteurisation.
Is Philadelphia safe in pregnancy?
The Philadelphia Original tubs we read on the Morrisons and Sainsbury's sites are labelled 'Made with pasteurised milk', and the NHS lists pasteurised cream cheese as safe. Check flavoured varieties for what has been added.
Can I eat cream cheese with smoked salmon?
The cream cheese is covered by the NHS rule, but smoked salmon is not: the NHS says cold-smoked fish like smoked salmon must be cooked until steaming hot during pregnancy.
Is cream cheese frosting safe?
If the cream cheese is pasteurised, the NHS wording covers it. Frosting is a chilled food, so keep it refrigerated and do not leave an iced cake out for long.
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.