Hard Cheese During Pregnancy: Cheddar, Parmesan, Swiss and Provolone
Pasteurized hard cheeses like cheddar, Parmesan and Swiss are on CDC's safer list in pregnancy. What to check for provolone, deli-sliced cheese and raw-milk cheese.
The short answer: Yes, most people can eat hard cheese while pregnant when it is made with pasteurized milk. CDC's pregnancy food-safety chart lists pasteurized hard cheeses such as Asiago, Cheddar, Parmesan, and Swiss/Gruyère/Emmental as safer choices. Any cheese made from raw (unpasteurized) milk is a riskier choice.
Is cheddar safe during pregnancy?
Pasteurized cheddar is on CDC's safer list, by name. Check the label for "made with pasteurized milk." See our cheddar and sharp sliced cheddar entries for nutrition data.
Can you eat Parmesan while pregnant?
Yes, when it is made with pasteurized milk. CDC names Parmesan among safer hard cheeses. Some imported or specialty Parmesan-style cheeses are made with raw milk, so the label is the deciding step: the FDA notes that some cheeses are not made with pasteurized milk. Parmesan has its own food page.
Is Swiss cheese safe in pregnancy?
Pasteurized Swiss, Gruyère, and Emmental are on CDC's safer list. Check the label as with any cheese. Food pages: Swiss, Gruyère, and pasteurized process Swiss.
Can I eat provolone while pregnant?
Provolone is not named on CDC's list, so use the same two checks CDC applies to all cheese: is it made with pasteurized milk, and was it sliced at a deli? CDC lists unheated cheese sliced at a deli as a riskier choice, and deli-sliced cheese heated to 165°F or until steaming hot as safer. Pre-packaged, pasteurized provolone avoids the deli-counter issue. A melted provolone sandwich that is steaming hot meets the heating step. See provolone.
What about deli-sliced cheese?
CDC treats cheese sliced at the deli counter like deli meat: heat it to 165°F or until steaming hot. This applies to hard cheeses too.
Which cheeses need extra care?
Soft and fresh cheeses follow different rules, especially queso fresco-type cheeses, which CDC lists as riskier even when pasteurized unless heated. Our soft cheese guide and queso fresco guide cover those.
Common questions
Does cooking hard cheese make it safer?
CDC lists cheeses heated to 165°F or until steaming hot as safer choices, including raw-milk cheese. Baking cheese into a hot casserole or pizza meets that step.
Is aged raw-milk cheese OK?
CDC's chart lists any cheese made with raw (unpasteurized) milk as riskier, without an exception for aging. Choose pasteurized, or heat it until steaming hot.
Related: feta cheese and blue cheese.
Sources: CDC safer food choices for pregnant women, CDC preventing Listeria, and FDA dairy and eggs for moms-to-be. This guide is educational and does not replace prenatal care.