Can You Eat Soft Cheese When Breastfeeding?
Written by Jordan Morley · Reviewed against NHS: food and drinks to avoid when breastfeeding · Last updated 28 October 2026
Yes. Soft Cheese isn't on the NHS list of foods to avoid while breastfeeding. The pregnancy warning about soft cheese is there because listeria can harm an unborn baby, and that reason ends at birth.
What the guidance says
In pregnancy, UK guidance tells you to avoid mould-ripened soft cheese and blue cheese unless cooked, because listeria infection can cross the placenta. Once the baby is born, the NHS advice on what to avoid while breastfeeding doesn't include any cheese. Listeria can still make anyone ill, so the ordinary rules apply: keep it chilled, eat it within its use-by date, and don't leave it out for hours.
You can also check the calorie content of soft cheese alongside its safety information.
Every soft cheese the pregnancy page restricts, checked against the breastfeeding page
We read the current NHS breastfeeding 'avoid' page directly (last modified 28 January 2026). It restricts caffeine, alcohol and a mercury/oily-fish fish limit. It names no cheese at all. The table below lines up what pregnancy restricts against what breastfeeding does not.
| Cheese type | Pregnancy rule (NHS foods-to-avoid page) | Breastfeeding rule (NHS avoid page, checked 28 Oct 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Mould-ripened soft (brie, camembert) | Avoid unless cooked until steaming hot, because of listeria | Not mentioned: no restriction |
| Soft blue (gorgonzola, roquefort, Danish blue) | Avoid unless cooked until steaming hot | Not mentioned: no restriction |
| Cottage cheese, cream cheese, mozzarella, paneer, halloumi, feta (if made from pasteurised milk), processed cheese spreads | Generally fine; these are not on the avoid list | Not mentioned: no restriction |
| Any soft cheese made from unpasteurised milk | Avoid, regardless of type | Not named on the breastfeeding page; the usual pasteurisation and chilled-storage hygiene rules still apply to everyone |
The reasoning the NHS gives for the pregnancy restriction is listeria crossing the placenta to an unborn baby. That specific pathway ends at birth, which is why the breastfeeding page does not repeat the cheese rule.
What does not change after the birth
Listeria itself does not stop existing once you give birth. Anyone, breastfeeding or not, can get listeriosis from chilled ready-to-eat food that has gone past its use-by date or been left out of the fridge too long. The ordinary rules still apply: keep soft cheese chilled, eat it within its use-by date, and don't leave it out at room temperature for long periods. What has genuinely ended is the pregnancy-specific reason for avoiding the cheese type itself, not food hygiene in general.
Sources checked
Everything in the sections above was checked against these pages on 28 October 2026.
- NHS: Food and drinks to avoid when breastfeeding (published 21 July 2023, modified 28 January 2026) — breastfeeding avoid list: caffeine, alcohol, oily/mercury fish only; no cheese named
- NHS: Foods to avoid in pregnancy (page last reviewed 15 June 2026) — pregnancy list: mould-ripened and blue soft cheese, unpasteurised cheese; listeria reasoning
- NHS: Listeriosis — listeria risk is not limited to pregnancy; general hygiene advice
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More for the feeding months
Soft Cheese: the other answers on this site
| Question | Short answer (links to the full page) |
|---|---|
| In pregnancy | Depends on the type |
| Left out overnight | No — throw it away (limit about 2 h) |
Common questions
Is soft cheese safe while breastfeeding?
Yes. Soft Cheese isn't on the NHS list of foods to avoid while breastfeeding. The pregnancy warning about soft cheese is there because listeria can harm an unborn baby, and that reason ends at birth.
Do I need to wait after the birth before eating soft cheese?
No set waiting period. The restriction was for pregnancy, so it ends once your baby is born.
Could soft cheese upset my baby?
Nothing in cheese is flagged by the NHS for breastfeeding. Rarely a baby reacts to cows' milk protein, with skin reactions, tummy upset or eczema; if you think that's happening, speak to your GP or health visitor.
Was this different during pregnancy?
Yes. In pregnancy our verdict was “depends on the type”, because of a risk to the unborn baby (see our pregnancy guide). Those reasons ended when your baby was born.
What should I avoid while breastfeeding?
The NHS list is short. Caffeine: try not to have more than 300mg a day (a mug of filter coffee is about 140mg, instant 100mg, tea 75mg). Alcohol: it is safer not to drink, but 1 or 2 units once or twice a week should be fine. Oily fish: no more than 2 portions a week. Shark, swordfish and marlin: no more than 1 portion a week. Peanuts are fine unless you're allergic. Most other foods that were off the menu in pregnancy, such as soft cheese, pâté, cured meat and runny eggs, are not restricted.
Is brie safe to eat while breastfeeding?
Yes. The NHS breastfeeding 'avoid' page does not list any cheese. The pregnancy rule against unpasteurised or mould-ripened soft cheese is there because listeria can cross the placenta and harm an unborn baby; that risk pathway ends once the baby is born.
Why was I told to avoid soft cheese in pregnancy but not now?
The reason given for the pregnancy rule is the risk to an unborn baby from listeria crossing the placenta. The NHS breastfeeding page, which we read directly, names only caffeine, alcohol and a fish portion limit as things to watch while breastfeeding.
Related answers
Primary source: NHS: food and drinks to avoid when breastfeeding.
General information only, not medical advice: see the medical disclaimer. Feeling unwell after eating something? Contact NHS 111 or your GP.