Muka · Pregnancy guide
Can I Eat Goats Cheese When Pregnant?
Updated June 2026 · based on NHS and official food-safety guidance
Hard goats cheese and pasteurised soft goats cheese without a white coating are safe to eat. The risk comes from soft, mould-ripened goats cheese with a white rind (like chèvre) and any goats cheese made from unpasteurised milk, because the higher moisture and rind can let Listeria grow. Cooking these until steaming hot kills the bacteria, which matters because listeriosis in pregnancy can cause miscarriage, stillbirth or serious illness in a newborn.
Goats cheese is not a single yes-or-no answer, which is exactly why it gets confusing. Whether you can eat it comes down to two things: is it pasteurised, and does it have a soft white rind? Some types are perfectly safe straight from the fridge, while others should only be eaten cooked. This guide breaks down each kind so you can check the label and the texture and know instantly where you stand, with both UK (NHS) and US (CDC/FDA/ACOG) guidance. For a specific product, the Muka app gives you a verdict in 3 seconds by barcode scan or photo.
Which goats cheese can you eat?
| Type of goats cheese | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Hard goats cheese (aged, firm) | Safe | The firm, aged, low-moisture texture does not support Listeria growth, so hard goats cheese is very low risk and safe straight from the fridge. The NHS lists hard cheeses among those safe in pregnancy. |
| Pasteurised soft goats cheese, no white rind | Safe | The NHS lists pasteurised goats cheese without a white coating among the soft cheeses that are safe in pregnancy. Check the label says pasteurised. |
| Soft chèvre with a white rind (mould-ripened) | Avoid | The NHS names chèvre among mould-ripened cheeses to avoid. The moist surface and rind can harbour Listeria, so eat only if cooked steaming hot. |
| Unpasteurised (raw milk) goats cheese | Avoid | Raw milk cheese is far more likely to contain Listeria. The NHS, CDC, FDA and ACOG all advise against it unless it is thoroughly cooked until piping hot. |
| Cooked goats cheese (baked tart, melted on pizza) | Safe | Cooking any goats cheese until steaming hot kills Listeria, so a hot goats cheese tart, pizza or grilled toast is fine even if the cheese was soft or rind-ripened. |
| Goats cheese at a restaurant (type unknown) | In moderation | If you cannot confirm it is pasteurised and rind-free, ask for it served hot or choose a hard goats cheese. When unsure, treat it as a soft cheese to be cautious. |
Not sure about a specific product?
Scan its barcode or snap a photo: Muka tells you in 3 seconds whether it's safe to eat while pregnant, explains why, and suggests a safe alternative. Free and unlimited.
Download Muka on the App StoreFrequently asked questions
Is goats cheese pasteurised?
Some is, some is not. Most supermarket goats cheese is made with pasteurised milk, but artisan, farmers-market and imported varieties are often unpasteurised. Always check the label for the word pasteurised. If it is not stated or you bought it loose, treat it as unpasteurised and only eat it cooked until steaming hot.
Can I eat goats cheese with a white rind when pregnant?
Not cold. Soft goats cheese with a white mould-ripened rind, such as chèvre, is on the NHS avoid list because the moist surface can harbour Listeria. You can eat it if it has been cooked until steaming hot, for example baked into a tart or melted, as heat kills the bacteria.
I accidentally ate soft goats cheese while pregnant. Should I worry?
Try not to panic. Listeria infection from cheese is rare, and most exposures cause no harm at all. Note when you ate it and watch for flu-like symptoms such as fever, aches or chills over the next few weeks. If any appear, contact your midwife or doctor promptly and mention what you ate.
Is cooked goats cheese safe in pregnancy?
Yes. Cooking goats cheese until it is steaming hot all the way through kills Listeria, so a hot goats cheese tart, grilled goats cheese, or goats cheese melted on pizza is safe even if the cheese was soft, rind-ripened or you are unsure whether it was pasteurised. Make sure it is piping hot, not just warm.
What is the difference between UK and US advice on goats cheese?
They align closely. The NHS focuses on avoiding soft mould-ripened goats cheese (chèvre) and unpasteurised cheese unless cooked hot. US guidance from the CDC, FDA and ACOG centres on choosing pasteurised dairy and avoiding raw-milk soft cheese. In both countries, hard or pasteurised rind-free goats cheese is considered safe.
Sources
- NHS — Foods to avoid in pregnancy: nhs.uk
See also: how Muka works, the pregnancy food scanner that answers “can I eat this while pregnant?”.