Is Frozen Yogurt Safe During Pregnancy? (Updated 2026 Guide)
Updated July 16, 2026
The Answer
Frozen yogurt can be eaten during pregnancy when it is made with pasteurized dairy, but this category carries moderate risk because raw milk products should be avoided. Among the 204 products we reviewed, most earned A or B+ grades, although ingredients vary considerably.
The main pregnancy consideration is whether the frozen yogurt contains pasteurized dairy; avoid any product made with raw or unpasteurized milk. Some varieties also contain high fructose corn syrup, synthetic colors, or even ethyl alcohol, so check the ingredient list and keep highly sweetened or heavily dyed options occasional.
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✓ What's Safe
- • A label that clearly identifies the milk and other dairy ingredients as pasteurized
- • A sealed commercial package with intact packaging and clear storage instructions
- • A shorter ingredient list without unnecessary synthetic colors
- • Lower added sugar options, especially if frozen yogurt is eaten regularly
- • Plain or simply flavored varieties that make additives easier to identify
- • Frozen yogurt kept fully frozen until serving
✗ What to Avoid
- • Frozen yogurt made with raw or unpasteurized milk
- • Products containing ethyl alcohol, because no safe amount of alcohol has been established during pregnancy
- • Frequent servings containing high fructose corn syrup or large amounts of other added sugars
- • Heavily colored varieties listing blue 1, red 40, artificial color, artificial colors red 40, fd c red 40, or red 40 and blue 1
- • Products containing partially hydrogenated soybean oil
- • Packages that are damaged, unsealed, thawed, or appear to have been refrozen
Most Common Ingredients in Frozen Yogurt Products
We analyzed 204 frozen yogurt products. Here are the most common ingredients, ranked by how often they appear:
Ingredients to Watch Out For in Frozen Yogurt
These are the most common flagged ingredients across 204 frozen yogurt products we analyzed.
high fructose corn syrup
CAUTION
High fructose corn syrup is an added sweetener used in drinks and processed foods. Is not a known teratogen at occasional food amounts, but high added sugar intake can displace nutrients and raise gestational diabetes and metabolic concerns.
Found in 29 of 204 products (14%)
blue 1
CAUTION
Blue 1 is a certified synthetic blue food color used in candies, drinks, frostings, cereals, and some medicines. Has limited human pregnancy data; regulated food use is not shown to cause fetal harm, but high dose animal neurobehavior findings and child sensitivity concerns support minimizing frequent exposure.
Found in 10 of 204 products (5%)
red 40
CAUTION
Red 40 is a synthetic red food dye used in processed foods, drinks, candies, and some medicines. Has limited human pregnancy data and is allowed at regulated food additive levels, but child neurobehavior concerns and high dose animal findings make frequent high dye intake worth limiting.
Found in 7 of 204 products (3%)
ethyl alcohol
AVOID
Ethyl alcohol is beverage ethanol found in beer, wine, liquor, cocktails, and similar drinks. Has no established safe amount in pregnancy and is linked to fetal alcohol spectrum disorders and other adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Found in 3 of 204 products (1%)
artificial color
CAUTION
Artificial color is a broad class of added synthetic color additives used in foods medicines and cosmetics. Has limited pregnancy specific outcome data; regulated incidental exposure is generally low concern but some dyes have child behavior allergy or regulatory caveats.
Found in 2 of 204 products (1%)
artificial colors red 40
CAUTION
Artificial colors red 40 is a synthetic red food dye used in processed foods, drinks, candies, and some medicines. Has limited human pregnancy data and is allowed at regulated food additive levels, but child neurobehavior concerns and high dose animal findings make frequent high dye intake worth limiting.
Found in 2 of 204 products (1%)
fd c red 40
CAUTION
Fd c red 40 is a synthetic red food dye used in processed foods, drinks, candies, and some medicines. Has limited human pregnancy data and is allowed at regulated food additive levels, but child neurobehavior concerns and high dose animal findings make frequent high dye intake worth limiting.
Found in 2 of 204 products (1%)
partially hydrogenated soybean oil
CAUTION
Partially hydrogenated soybean oil is chemically hardened food oils used for texture and shelf life in processed foods. Mainly raise concern when partially hydrogenated and high in artificial trans fat; fully hydrogenated oils are mostly a saturated fat limit rather than the same trans fat issue.
Found in 2 of 204 products (1%)
Frozen Yogurt Products We've Analyzed
We graded 204 frozen yogurt products for pregnancy safety. 45 received an A grade.
Pregnancy Safe Frozen Yogurt Products
We found 20 pregnancy safe options. Here are some top picks.
| Grade | Product | Brand |
|---|---|---|
| A | Frozen Greek Yogurt Bars | Yasso |
| A | Frozen Vanilla Yogurt | Dannon |
| A | Gotta Have Vanilla Frozen Nonfat Yogurt, Vanilla | — |
| A | Organic Chocolate Whole Milk Frozen Yogurt, Chocolate | Stonyfield |
| A | Stonyfield, Organic Nonfat Frozen Yogurt, Gotta Have Java | — |
Your Questions Answered
Is frozen yogurt safe during pregnancy?
Yes, frozen yogurt can be an option during pregnancy when it is made from pasteurized dairy and has been stored properly. The category has moderate risk because raw or unpasteurized milk products should be avoided. Ingredient quality varies, so check the label rather than assuming every variety is equivalent.
Is frozen yogurt made with pasteurized milk?
Many packaged frozen yogurts are made with pasteurized dairy, but you should verify this on the label or with the manufacturer or seller. Do not assume that every homemade, artisanal, or unpackaged version uses pasteurized milk. If its pasteurization status cannot be confirmed, choose another dessert.
What yogurts should I avoid while pregnant?
Avoid frozen or regular yogurt made from raw or unpasteurized milk. Also avoid varieties containing ethyl alcohol, and consider limiting products with high fructose corn syrup or numerous synthetic colors. A pasteurized product with a straightforward ingredient list is the more cautious choice.
How do frozen yogurt products compare by pregnancy safety grade?
We reviewed 204 products: 45 earned an A, 113 earned a B+, 30 earned a C+, 6 earned a C, 7 earned a C-, and 3 earned an F. This distribution shows that most options rated relatively well, but a small number had substantially less favorable formulations. Check the individual product grade and ingredient list before choosing.
Are artificial colors in frozen yogurt unsafe during pregnancy?
Blue 1, red 40, and broad artificial color blends have limited human pregnancy data. Regulated food use has not been shown to cause fetal harm, but high dose animal findings and concerns involving sensitive children support minimizing frequent exposure. An occasional food level exposure is different from sustained or high dose exposure.
Should I avoid high fructose corn syrup in frozen yogurt?
High fructose corn syrup is not a known teratogen at occasional food amounts. The concern is repeated intake of added sugars, which can displace more nutritious foods and contribute to metabolic concerns, including gestational diabetes risk. If you eat frozen yogurt often, compare labels and choose options with less added sugar.
Does frozen yogurt contain probiotics?
Some frozen yogurt may contain live cultures, but the category name alone does not confirm the strains, quantity, or whether they remain viable. One listed culture, probiotic culture Bacillus coagulans GBI-30 6086, has strain specific safety information but limited pregnancy specific data. Treat probiotic content as formulation specific rather than a reason to assume a product is safer.
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.
People Also Checked
See our full guide to yogurt during pregnancy.
References
- https://www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/rawmilk/index.html
- https://cdn.realfood.gov/DGA.pdf
- https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/sites/default/files/2021-12/DGA_Pregnancy_FactSheet-508c.pdf
- https://www.acog.org/womens health/faqs/healthy eating during pregnancy
- https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/php/data research/added sugars.html
- https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/about/gestational diabetes.html
- https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241549028
- https://nesr.usda.gov/2025-dietary guidelines advisory committee systematic reviews/dietary patterns_gestational diabetes
- https://www.hfpappexternal.fda.gov/scripts/fdcc/index.cfm?id=FDCBlue1&set=ColorAdditives
- https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/chapter I/subchapter A/part-74
- https://www.fda.gov/food/color additives information consumers/tracking food industry pledges remove petroleum based food dyes
- https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.2903/j.efsa.2010.1853
- https://apps.who.int/food additives contaminants jecfa database/Home/Chemical/3309
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23208798/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24257113/
- https://oehha.ca.gov/risk assessment/report/health effects assessment potential neurobehavioral effects synthetic food dyes children
- https://www.hfpappexternal.fda.gov/scripts/fdcc/index.cfm?id=FDCRed40&set=ColorAdditives
- https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/chapter I/subchapter A/part-74/subpart A/section-74.340
- https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/1327
- https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/4007