Is Paneer safe during pregnancy?

Indian foodMilk, cheese & dairy Also called Chena (Bengali); Paladai (Tamil); Paalavirugudu (Telugu); Palkatti (Malayalam); Tali (Kannada).

Safe when pasteurised

The NHS names paneer among pasteurised soft cheeses that are safe to eat in pregnancy.[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]

Related general rules

US FDA: Dairy and Eggs (Food Safety for Moms-to-Be)

  • Be sure that all the dairy products you consume are made with pasteurized milk. Check the label.[2]

US CDC: Safer Food Choices for Pregnant Women

  • Safer Choice: Cottage cheese, cream cheese, string cheese, feta and mozzarella, when made with pasteurized milk[3]

ICMR-NIN: Dietary Guidelines for Indians 2024

  • Because milk can easily become contaminated, use pasteurised or boiled milk to keep it safe. (p. 90) (general-population advice, not specific to pregnancy)[4]

FSANZ: Food safety for vulnerable people

  • Higher-risk foods: Pre-packaged and delicatessen (e.g. brie, camembert, mozzarella, ricotta, feta and blue) (advice for vulnerable people, including pregnant women)[5]

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.
  2. US FDA: Dairy and Eggs (Food Safety for Moms-to-Be) · fda.gov. US government work, public domain; quoted. No endorsement implied.
  3. US CDC: Safer Food Choices for Pregnant Women · cdc.gov. US government work, public domain; quoted. No endorsement implied.
  4. ICMR-NIN: Dietary Guidelines for Indians 2024 · nin.res.in. Printed page 90. Paraphrased and cited by printed page; the text is not reproduced.
  5. FSANZ: Food safety for vulnerable people · foodstandards.gov.au. © Food Standards Australia New Zealand, licensed under CC BY 4.0; quoted. No endorsement implied.

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.