Is Goat's cheese safe during pregnancy?

Milk, cheese & dairy

Safe if pasteurised and without a white rind

The NHS says pasteurised goats' cheese without a white rind is safe, while rinded or unpasteurised soft goats' cheese must be thoroughly cooked.[1]

What official sources say

NHS: Foods to avoid in pregnancy

  • Cheese, milk and other dairy › Safe to eat: Pasteurised soft cheeses are safe to eat in pregnancy, including cottage cheese, cream cheese, processed cheese spreads, mozzarella, feta, paneer, ricotta, mascarpone, halloumi, burrata and goats' cheese without a white rind.[1]
  • Cheese, milk and other dairy › Foods to be careful with: Foods made from unpasteurised milk, such as soft ripened goats' cheese with a white rind, need care in pregnancy: they must be thoroughly cooked.[1]
  • Cheese, milk and other dairy › Foods to be careful with: Mould-ripened soft cheeses with a white rind, such as brie, camembert and chèvre, whether pasteurised or not, need care in pregnancy: they must be thoroughly cooked.[1]

Nutrition per 100 g (USDA)

Energy264 kcal
Protein18.52 g
Fibre0 g
Sugars0 g
Iron1.9 mg
Calcium140 mg
Folate (DFE)12 µg
Folate, total12 µg
Vitamin A (RAE)288 µg
Vitamin C0 mg
Vitamin D0.4 µg
Vitamin B120.19 µg
Choline15.4 mg
DHA (omega-3)0 g
EPA (omega-3)0 g
Caffeine0 mg
Sodium459 mg

USDA FoodData Central: Cheese, goat, soft type (FDC ID 173435), per 100 g. Public domain. Values describe that USDA record; composition varies with variety and preparation.

Sources

  1. NHS: Foods to avoid in pregnancy · nhs.uk. Paraphrased. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (OGL v3.0). Not endorsed by the NHS.

Sources checked 26 September 2026.

Quotes are checked word for word against each source page, and paraphrases against the original text. Official bodies are named as sources only: none of them reviewed or endorses this page.

Educational information, not medical advice. Your own doctor or midwife may advise differently for you — follow their advice.