Is Brie Safe During Pregnancy? (Updated 2026 Guide)
Updated March 22, 2026
The Answer
Yes, with caution. Pasteurized brie is safe during pregnancy, and most brie sold in U.S. grocery stores is pasteurized. Always check the label to confirm, and avoid unpasteurized or raw milk brie due to listeria risk.
Brie is a soft cheese that can support listeria bacteria growth due to its high moisture content. Listeria infection during pregnancy can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, or serious complications for newborns. The good news is that pasteurized brie eliminates this risk, and the vast majority of commercial brie in the U.S. is made from pasteurized milk.
Pregnancy Safe is 100% independent and research driven. No companies pay to promote or sponsor products.
✓ What's Safe
- • Label clearly states 'pasteurized' or 'made from pasteurized milk'
- • Major grocery store brands (typically pasteurized by default in the U.S.)
- • Brie heated to 165°F or until steaming hot throughout
- • Baked brie dishes where cheese is fully melted and bubbly
- • No quantity limits when eating pasteurized brie
✗ What to Avoid
- • Unpasteurized or raw milk brie (check label carefully)
- • Imported brie without clear pasteurization labeling
- • Farmers market or artisan cheese without confirmed pasteurization
- • Brie from cheese platters at restaurants where origin is unknown
- • Any soft cheese that has been sitting at room temperature for extended periods
Most Common Ingredients in Brie Products
We analyzed 12 brie products. Here are the most common ingredients, ranked by how often they appear:
Ingredients to Watch Out For in Brie
These are the most common flagged ingredients across 12 brie products we analyzed.
brie cheese pasteurized milk
CAUTION
Brie cheese pasteurized milk is a soft cheese made from cow's milk. May contain listeria if unpasteurized which can cause miscarriage and stillbirth.
Found in 2 of 12 products (17%)
blackberry preserves blackberries high fructose corn syrup
CAUTION
Blackberry preserves blackberries high fructose corn syrup is a simple sugar found naturally in fruits and added to many processed foods and beverages as high fructose corn syrup. May program offspring for metabolic dysfunction when consumed in excess during pregnancy, with animal studies showing effects on insulin resistance, blood pressure, and neurodevelopment.
Found in 1 of 12 products (8%)
Brie Products We've Analyzed
We graded 12 brie products for pregnancy safety. 9 received an A grade.
Pregnancy Safe Brie Products
We found 9 pregnancy safe options. Here are some top picks.
| Grade | Product | Brand |
|---|---|---|
| A | Double Cream Brie | — |
| A | Black Truffle Brie | Alouette Cheese Usa Llc,Savencia |
| A | Double Creame Brie | Lena Creamery |
| A | Petit Creme Brie | Marin French Cheese |
| A | Double Creame Brie | — |
Your Questions Answered
Can pregnant women eat brie?
Yes, pregnant women can safely eat brie as long as it's made from pasteurized milk. Most brie sold in U.S. supermarkets is pasteurized, making it safe for pregnancy. Always check the label to confirm pasteurization status. If you're unsure about the source, heating brie until steaming hot (165°F) kills any potential listeria bacteria.
What are the risks of brie during pregnancy?
The main risk is listeria contamination, which is more likely in unpasteurized soft cheeses. Listeria can cross the placenta and cause miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or life threatening infection in newborns. However, pasteurized brie carries minimal risk because the pasteurization process kills listeria bacteria. This is why checking labels is so important.
Is brie pasteurized or unpasteurized?
Most brie sold commercially in the United States is pasteurized. FDA regulations require that soft cheeses aged less than 60 days must be made from pasteurized milk, which covers nearly all brie on grocery store shelves. However, some imported or artisan varieties may be unpasteurized, so always check the label. When in doubt, look for 'pasteurized' printed on the packaging.
How likely is brie to have listeria?
Soft cheeses like brie have higher moisture content, which can support listeria growth more easily than hard cheeses. The CDC has linked listeria outbreaks to soft cheeses including brie. However, the actual risk from pasteurized brie is very low. Unpasteurized brie carries a meaningful risk, which is why health authorities recommend confirming pasteurization before eating soft cheese during pregnancy.
Can I eat baked brie while pregnant?
Yes, baked brie is safe during pregnancy regardless of whether the original cheese was pasteurized. Heating brie to 165°F or until it's steaming hot and fully melted kills any listeria bacteria that might be present. Baked brie dishes where the cheese is bubbly throughout are perfectly safe to enjoy. This makes baked brie a worry free option for pregnant women who want to enjoy soft cheese.
How Do We Score Products for Pregnancy Safety?
We analyze each product's ingredients and category to flag known risks and provide cautionary notices for general category safety concerns.
A - Safe
Excellent choice! All ingredients are considered safe during pregnancy.
What to do: Use with confidence.
B - Likely Safe
Pretty much safe with very minimal risk. Some ingredients may have limited pregnancy studies, but no significant safety concerns have been identified.
What to do: Use with confidence.
C - Limit
Contains ingredients with some pregnancy considerations. Research shows these ingredients may have limited safety data, potential for minor hormonal effects, or require caution based on animal studies.
What to do: Use sparingly and consider safer alternatives when available.
D - Caution
Similar to C grade but contains multiple cautionary ingredients. The combination increases overall concern.
What to do: Try to avoid if that makes you feel better. If you've already used it, no need to panic.
F - Avoid
Contains ingredients with established risks during pregnancy. Research shows these can cause birth defects, developmental harm, or serious maternal complications.
What to do: Do not use during pregnancy. If you've already used it, don't worry - contact your OBGYN if concerned.
References
- https://www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/rawmilk/index.html
- https://www.todaysparent.com/pregnancy/pregnancy health/yes its safe to eat brie when pregnant/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11510352/
- https://www.nealsyarddairy.co.uk/pages/cheese and pregnancy
- https://www.thebump.com/a/soft cheeses during pregnancy
- https://americanpregnancy.org/healthy pregnancy/pregnancy concerns/listeria during pregnancy/
- https://mothertobaby.org/baby blog/for the love of cheese why are pregnant people told to avoid soft cheese/
- https://www.reddit.com/r/pregnant/comments/dw96mv/i_ate_brie/
- https://www.fda.gov/food/health educators/listeria food safety moms be
- https://www.fda.gov/food/people risk foodborne illness/entertaining all year food safety moms be
- https://www.whattoexpect.com/pregnancy/your health/advice on eating cheese during pregnancy/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41575313/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41319247/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41466216/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40737281/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40500435/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39803898/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40381608/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40114083/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39832708/
