Can you eat mozzarella when pregnant?

Find out if it's safe to eat mozzarella during pregnancy, plus precautions to take to keep you and your baby healthy.

The official advice on eating mozzarella in pregnancy

Good news, mozzarella is safe to eat during pregnancy so feel free to tuck into that pizza.

The NHS says it's safe to eat soft cheese like mozzarella (cold or cooked) when you're pregnant, as long as it's made from pasteurised milk. This is because the process of pasteurising kills off any harmful bacteria.

Unpasteurised soft cheeses may contain the bacteria listeria, which, in rare cases, can cause an infection called listeriosis. Listeriosis can make your unborn baby very unwell and may lead to miscarriage or stillbirth.

Most mozzarella sold in the UK is pasteurised. If you come across unpasteurised mozzarella, you should only eat it if it's thoroughly cooked throughout. This kills off the listeria bacteria, making it safe to eat.

Delicious mozzarella recipes

Love mozzarella? Why not try one of these great pregnancy-safe recipes?

• Homemade cherry tomato and mozzarella pizza
• Mushroom and mozzarella tarts
• Tricolore pasta salad
• Cod loin with mashed potatoes, pesto and mozzarella
• Meatball, mozzarella and gnocchi gratin

We like The Whole 9 Months, a week-by-week pregnancy nutrition guide, packed full of recipes and medical advice. See more details here at Amazon.

Take a look at

Foods to avoid in pregnancy: your definitive guide

Confused about what you can and can't eat during pregnancy? These are the foods and drinks you should avoid or cut down on to protect your baby.

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Looking for more pregnancy diet info? Check out our articles below, or swap tips with other mums-to-be in our forum.

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