Is Goat Cheese Safe During Pregnancy? (Updated 2026 Guide)
Updated March 15, 2026
The Answer
Yes, pasteurized goat cheese is safe during pregnancy. With 291 out of 309 products earning an A grade, most commercial goat cheese is pregnancy safe when made from pasteurized milk.
Goat cheese safety during pregnancy depends entirely on pasteurization. Unpasteurized goat cheese carries 50-160 times higher listeria risk, and pregnant women are 10-20 times more susceptible to listeriosis than the general population. Listeria infection can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, or severe newborn illness, making label checking essential.
Pregnancy Safe is 100% independent and research driven. No companies pay to promote or sponsor products.
✓ What's Safe
- • Pasteurized goat cheese from major grocery brands like Montchevre, Vermont Creamery, or Chavrie
- • Labels clearly stating 'made from pasteurized goat milk' or 'pasteurized'
- • Hard or aged goat cheeses, which are generally safer due to lower moisture content
- • Goat cheese cooked to 165°F in hot dishes like baked pasta or pizza
- • Pre packaged goat cheese from refrigerated sections with intact seals
- • No limit on consumption when pasteurized - enjoy freely as part of a balanced diet
✗ What to Avoid
- • Unpasteurized or raw milk goat cheese (check labels carefully)
- • Soft, surface ripened goat cheese with white rinds unless thoroughly cooked
- • Farmers market or artisan goat cheese without clear pasteurization labeling
- • Imported goat cheese from countries with different pasteurization standards
- • Goat cheese from deli counters where cross contamination may occur
- • Any goat cheese past its expiration date or improperly stored
Most Common Ingredients in Goat Cheese Products
We analyzed 309 goat cheese products. Here are the most common ingredients, ranked by how often they appear:
Ingredients to Watch Out For in Goat Cheese
These are the most common flagged ingredients across 309 goat cheese products we analyzed.
bourbon
AVOID
Bourbon is an intoxicating substance in beverages. Causes fetal alcohol spectrum disorder with lifelong physical and cognitive problems. No safe level exists.
Found in 3 of 309 products (1%)
port wine
AVOID
Port wine is an intoxicating substance in beverages. Causes fetal alcohol spectrum disorder with lifelong physical and cognitive problems. No safe level exists.
Found in 3 of 309 products (1%)
red 40
CAUTION
Red 40 is a synthetic red food coloring. May affect neurobehavioral development based on animal studies at high doses.
Found in 3 of 309 products (1%)
high fructose corn syrup
CAUTION
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 2 of 309 products (1%)
sodium benzoate
CAUTION
Sodium benzoate is a common food preservative in processed foods. Has shown birth defects in animal studies at high doses.
Found in 2 of 309 products (1%)
artificial flavor horseradish
AVOID
Artificial flavor horseradish is a pungent root vegetable used as a condiment. Contains compounds that may cause digestive irritation and has shown developmental toxicity in animals.
Found in 1 of 309 products (0%)
ethyl alcohol
AVOID
Ethyl alcohol is an intoxicating substance in beverages. Causes fetal alcohol spectrum disorder with lifelong physical and cognitive problems. No safe level exists.
Found in 1 of 309 products (0%)
fructose
CAUTION
Fructose 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 309 products (0%)
Goat Cheese Products We've Analyzed
We graded 309 goat cheese products for pregnancy safety. 291 received an A grade.
Pregnancy Safe Goat Cheese Products
We found 291 pregnancy safe options. Here are some top picks.
| Grade | Product | Brand |
|---|---|---|
| A | Montchevre, Fresh Goat Cheese | Betin Inc. |
| A | Fresh Goat Cheese Honey Blossom | Laura Cheney |
| A | Mild Goat Cheese | Chavrie,Savencia |
| A | Fresh Goat Cheese | Vermont Creamery |
| A | Chevre Goat Cheese | Boar'S Head Brand |
Your Questions Answered
Can pregnant women eat goat cheese?
Yes, pregnant women can safely eat goat cheese that is made from pasteurized milk. Most commercial goat cheese sold in U.S. grocery stores is pasteurized and safe to consume. Always check the label to confirm pasteurization, and avoid soft ripened varieties with white rinds unless they're cooked thoroughly to 165°F.
What are the risks of goat cheese during pregnancy?
The main risk is listeria contamination from unpasteurized goat cheese. Pregnant women are 10-20 times more likely to get listeriosis than the general population. Listeria infection during pregnancy can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or life threatening infection in newborns. Pasteurized goat cheese eliminates this risk almost entirely.
Is Costco goat cheese pasteurized?
Yes, Costco's Kirkland Signature goat cheese is made from pasteurized goat's milk, making it safe for pregnant women. Like most major retailers, Costco sources goat cheese that meets FDA pasteurization requirements. Always verify by checking the ingredient label, which should clearly state 'pasteurized goat milk' or similar wording.
Why avoid goats when pregnant?
This advice refers to avoiding contact with goats during lambing or kidding season, not eating goat cheese. Pregnant animals can carry infections like chlamydiosis and toxoplasmosis that pose risks to human pregnancy. However, pasteurized goat cheese products are completely safe because pasteurization kills harmful bacteria. The warning is about direct animal contact, not properly processed dairy products.
What types of goat cheese are safe during pregnancy?
Safe options include pasteurized fresh chèvre, crumbled goat cheese, goat cheese logs from major brands, and any goat cheese cooked in hot dishes. Brands like Vermont Creamery, Montchevre, Chavrie, and Trader Joe's all use pasteurized milk. Hard aged goat cheeses are also safe due to their low moisture content, which inhibits bacterial growth.
Is goat cheese safer than other soft cheeses during pregnancy?
Goat cheese follows the same safety rules as other soft cheeses: pasteurized versions are safe, unpasteurized are not. The key difference is texture - soft, surface ripened goat cheese with a white rind (similar to brie) carries more risk than fresh crumbled goat cheese, even when pasteurized. When in doubt, heating any soft cheese to 165°F makes it safe to eat.
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.
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See our full guide to cheese during pregnancy.
References
- https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/keeping well/drinking alcohol while pregnant/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7061927/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7807528/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fetal_alcohol_spectrum_disorder
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3297711/
- https://americanaddictioncenters.org/alcohol/risks effects dangers/pregnancy
- https://www.aacap.org/AACAP/Families_and_Youth/Facts_for_Families/FFF Guide/Drinking Alcohol in Pregnancy Fetal Alcohol Effects-093.aspx
- https://www.nature.com/articles/pr200789
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases conditions/fetal alcohol syndrome/symptoms causes/syc-20352901
- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15677-fetal alcohol syndrome
- https://iawpwellnesscoach.com/red-40/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24257113/
- https://www.nature.com/articles/s41370-022-00418-9
- https://medisearch.io/blog/red dye-40-and pregnancy
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2060889/
- https://oehha.ca.gov/sites/default/files/media/downloads/risk assessment/document/appendixf082820.pdf
- https://www.reddit.com/r/pregnant/comments/181obac/is_red_40_actually_harmful/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31679476/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9368057/
- https://health.clevelandclinic.org/red dye-40
