Can You Eat Mozzarella When Pregnant?
Written by Jordan Morley · Reviewed against NHS foods-to-avoid guidance · Last updated 28 October 2026
Yes — Mozzarella is safe during pregnancy as long as it is made from pasteurised milk. Check the label for the word pasteurised.
Why is mozzarella safe in pregnancy?
The NHS confirms that soft cheeses like Mozzarella 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 Mozzarella is pasteurised. Check the label, and ask about products from delis, farm shops, markets and restaurants.
You can also check the calorie content of mozzarella alongside its safety information. Also check medication safety during pregnancy if you're managing any conditions.
The exception
Avoid Mozzarella made from unpasteurised (raw) milk. If a label doesn't confirm pasteurisation, choose a different product.
Is your mozzarella pasteurised? What three UK packs say
The NHS lists mozzarella with the soft cheeses that are safe in pregnancy if pasteurised. Cow's-milk and buffalo-milk mozzarella are both sold in UK supermarkets, and the retailer pages we checked say clearly which they are:
| Pack (retailer page, 28 Oct 2026) | Wording on the page | After opening |
|---|---|---|
| Sainsbury's Mozzarella Cheese 150g | 'Mozzarella cheese made with pasteurised cows' milk, packed in brine' | 'Use within 2 days and do not exceed the use-by date'; keep it sealed in its brine |
| Sainsbury's Buffalo Mozzarella, Taste the Difference 125g | 'Mozzarella medium fat cheese made with pasteurised buffaloes' milk, packed in brine' | Not stated on the page |
| Waitrose No.1 Mozzarella di Bufala Campana DOP | 'made with pasteurised water buffalo milk, in brine' | 'Once opened, consume within 1 day'; keep refrigerated below 5°C |
The opened-pack windows (1 or 2 days) are much shorter than most people assume and are not covered by the US pages we read. We checked three packs, not every mozzarella; fresh mozzarella from a deli counter or a restaurant still needs the question 'is it pasteurised?'
By dish: when mozzarella is and isn't a worry
| Where | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Pizza from the oven or a takeaway, hot | Fine | Cooked until steaming hot; the NHS says that makes any cheese safe |
| Mozzarella sticks, lasagne, garlic bread with cheese | Fine if served hot | Same reasoning |
| Caprese salad, a ball torn onto a salad, bruschetta | Fine only if the cheese is pasteurised | Cold and uncooked, so the pasteurisation is doing the work |
| Buffalo mozzarella at a restaurant or deli | Ask | Pasteurised buffalo mozzarella is common in shops, but the Waitrose and Sainsbury's wording is for those packs, not every kitchen |
| Pre-packed sandwich, wrap or salad with mozzarella | Fine if chilled and in date | The NHS says pre-packaged sandwiches and salads containing cheese should be kept chilled and eaten before the use-by date |
| Burrata or stracciatella | Different cheese, same question | See burrata |
What the top English-language page misses
Healthline's mozzarella article (23 September 2021; about 1,000 words; nine references including the CDC and USDA) says pasteurized mozzarella is 'almost universally safe' in pregnancy, including the softer fresh kind, and advises checking labels. It does not discuss buffalo mozzarella, treats pizza in passing, and does not mention how long an opened pack keeps. Our packs table, dish table and opened-pack windows fill those three gaps with UK retailer pages and NHS wording.
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) — mozzarella with the pasteurised soft cheeses; cooked until steaming hot is safe; pre-packaged sandwiches and salads
- Tommy's: Foods to avoid in pregnancy (last reviewed 6 September 2024) — mozzarella is fine if pasteurised
- Sainsbury's: Mozzarella Cheese 150g (product page) — Sainsbury's Mozzarella 150g: pasteurised cows' milk; use within 2 days of opening (checked 28 October 2026)
- Sainsbury's: Buffalo Mozzarella, Taste the Difference 125g (product page) — Sainsbury's Buffalo Mozzarella: pasteurised buffaloes' milk (checked 28 October 2026)
- Waitrose: No.1 Mozzarella di Bufala Campana DOP (product page) — Waitrose No.1 Mozzarella di Bufala: pasteurised water buffalo milk; consume within 1 day of opening (checked 28 October 2026)
- Healthline: Can you eat mozzarella during pregnancy? (23 September 2021) — rival: US framing, 'almost universally safe if pasteurized'
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Check Price →Mozzarella: the other answers on this site
| Question | Short answer (links to the full page) |
|---|---|
| While breastfeeding | Safe |
| In the fridge (Mozzarella (Opened)) | 1–2 weeks in the fridge |
| In the freezer | Yes — freezes well (best quality for 6 months) |
Common questions
Can I eat mozzarella in the first trimester?
Yes — pasteurised Mozzarella is safe at every stage of pregnancy, including the first trimester.
Is a small amount of mozzarella OK during pregnancy?
You don't need to limit pasteurised Mozzarella — it can be eaten freely as part of a balanced pregnancy diet.
I accidentally ate mozzarella 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 mozzarella safe in pregnancy?
Yes — pasteurised Mozzarella is safe cooked or uncooked, and cooking any Mozzarella until piping hot makes it safe regardless of pasteurisation.
Is buffalo mozzarella safe when pregnant?
Yes if it is pasteurised. The two supermarket packs we checked, Sainsbury's Taste the Difference and Waitrose No.1 Mozzarella di Bufala Campana DOP, both say they are made with pasteurised buffalo milk. Check the label of any other pack, and ask at a deli or restaurant.
How long does opened mozzarella last?
Follow the pack: the Sainsbury's cows' milk pack says use within 2 days of opening, and the Waitrose buffalo pack says within 1 day. Keep it in its brine.
Can I eat mozzarella on pizza when pregnant?
Yes. A pizza cooked until steaming hot makes mozzarella safe whether or not it was pasteurised, according to the NHS cheese rule. Eat it hot.
Can I eat mozzarella in a caprese salad?
Only if it is pasteurised, because nothing cooks it. Check the pack or ask the restaurant.
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.