Can You Eat Parmesan When Pregnant?
Written by Jordan Morley · Reviewed against NHS foods-to-avoid guidance · Last updated 28 October 2026
Yes — Parmesan is safe to eat during pregnancy, even when made with unpasteurised milk, according to NHS guidance.
Why is parmesan safe in pregnancy?
Parmesan (Parmigiano Reggiano) is a very hard, aged cheese. Even though authentic Parmesan is made with unpasteurised milk, the NHS confirms hard cheeses are safe in pregnancy — the long ageing and very low moisture make listeria growth extremely unlikely.
You can also check the calorie content of parmesan alongside its safety information. Also check medication safety during pregnancy if you're managing any conditions.
The NHS rule: hard cheese, pasteurised or not
The NHS foods-to-avoid page (reviewed 15 June 2026) lists 'pasteurised or unpasteurised hard cheeses, such as cheddar, gruyère and parmesan' as safe to eat. Tommy's gives the same list, and nidirect gives the same rule for hard cheeses such as cheddar. The NHS avoid list names unpasteurised milk, cream, yoghurt, butter and ice cream, and hard cheeses are listed separately as safe.
What a real UK Parmesan label says
Many people expect Parmesan to be pasteurised and are surprised. Sainsbury's own product pages show the opposite:
| Product page we read | Milk | Matured | Once opened |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sainsbury's Parmigiano Reggiano DOP Taste the Difference 200g | 'MADE WITH UNPASTEURISED COWS' MILK' | Minimum 30 months | Keep refrigerated; use within 14 days |
| Sainsbury's Grated Parmigiano Reggiano DOP 120g | 'MADE WITH UNPASTEURISED COWS' MILK' | Minimum 22 months | Keep refrigerated; use within 7 days; seal well |
Both are raw-milk cheeses sold in a mainstream supermarket, and both fall under the NHS hard-cheese rule. A Cheese Scientist article (modified 20 May 2024) says authentic Parmigiano Reggiano is always raw milk, while other 'Parmesan' is usually pasteurised.
Why hard cheese is treated differently
The NHS page does not give its reason for listing hard cheeses as safe. The Cheese Scientist article, which cites FSANZ (Australia), says aged raw-milk cheeses have a safety profile equivalent to pasteurised ones in pregnancy because of their low moisture and high salt, and that unaged raw-milk cheeses carry higher contamination risk. That is a secondary explanation, so we give it as theirs, not as an NHS reason. The practical split is the one the NHS makes: hard cheese is fine, soft and mould-ripened cheese has its own rules.
Grated, rind, restaurants and look-alikes
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| Pre-grated tub or sprinkled on pasta | Same hard-cheese rule. Keep it refrigerated and use within the days on the pack (7 days on the Sainsbury's grated tub) |
| A rind simmered in soup | We found no NHS wording on rinds; we treat it as part of the cheese (our reading) |
| Shavings on a restaurant salad | Hard cheese, so fine; the salad should be washed and fresh |
| 'Italian hard cheese' or Grana Padano, pecorino | Not named by the NHS. The NHS says 'hard cheeses, such as...', which is a category, so we apply the same rule |
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 or unpasteurised hard cheeses such as cheddar, gruyere and parmesan
- Tommy's: Foods to avoid in pregnancy (last reviewed 6 September 2024) — hard cheeses such as cheddar, gruyere and parmesan, pasteurised or unpasteurised
- nidirect: Foods to avoid in pregnancy (last updated 3 April 2025) — hard cheeses such as cheddar, pasteurised or unpasteurised
- Sainsbury's: Parmigiano Reggiano DOP Taste the Difference 200g (product page) — unpasteurised cows' milk; minimum 30 months; 14 days once opened
- Sainsbury's: Grated Parmigiano Reggiano DOP 120g (product page) — unpasteurised cows' milk; minimum 22 months; 7 days once opened
- Cheese Scientist: Can you safely eat Parmesan during pregnancy? (published 4 December 2023, modified 20 May 2024) — secondary: always raw milk for Parmigiano Reggiano; FSANZ view on aged raw-milk cheese
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Check Price →Parmesan: the other answers on this site
| Question | Short answer (links to the full page) |
|---|---|
| While breastfeeding | Safe |
| In the fridge (Parmesan (Opened)) | 6 months unopened, 3–4 weeks once opened |
| In the freezer | Yes — freezes well (best quality for 6 months) |
Common questions
Can I eat parmesan in the first trimester?
Yes — Parmesan is safe at every stage of pregnancy, including the first trimester.
Is a small amount of parmesan OK during pregnancy?
You can eat Parmesan freely during pregnancy. As with any food, it is best enjoyed as part of a balanced diet, but there is no safety limit.
I accidentally ate parmesan while pregnant — what should I do?
There is nothing to worry about — Parmesan is safe during pregnancy, so no action is needed.
Is cooked parmesan safe in pregnancy?
Yes — Parmesan is safe both cooked and uncooked during pregnancy.
Is Parmesan pasteurised in the UK?
Not always. Sainsbury's Parmigiano Reggiano and its grated version are both labelled 'made with unpasteurised cows' milk'. The NHS says pasteurised or unpasteurised hard cheeses such as parmesan are safe in pregnancy.
Can I eat Parmesan rind?
We found no NHS wording on rinds. The NHS hard-cheese rule does not distinguish rind from the cheese.
How long does opened Parmesan last?
The Sainsbury's wedge says use within 14 days of opening and the grated tub within 7 days. See our <a href='/how-long-does-parmesan-last-in-fridge/'>Parmesan storage guide</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.