Pregnant Women Should Avoid Soft Cheeses Due to Listeria Risk
Pregnant women should avoid soft cheeses such as feta, Brie, Camembert, blue-veined, and Mexican-style cheeses like queso fresco due to the risk of Listeria monocytogenes infection, which can cause severe complications including miscarriage, stillbirth, and neonatal death.
Understanding Listeriosis in Pregnancy
Listeriosis is a foodborne illness caused by the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes that poses a significant risk during pregnancy:
- Pregnant women are approximately 13-18 times more likely to contract listeriosis than the general population due to pregnancy-related suppressed cell-mediated immunity 1, 2
- While maternal infection often presents as a mild flu-like illness, the consequences for the fetus and newborn can be severe 1
- Fetal listeriosis has a high mortality rate of 25-35%, and neonatal listeriosis has a case fatality rate of about 20% 2
Why Soft Cheeses Pose a Risk
Soft cheeses are particularly concerning for pregnant women because:
- Listeria can survive and multiply at refrigeration temperatures, making refrigerated foods a potential risk 3
- Soft cheeses provide an ideal environment for Listeria growth, even when made with pasteurized milk 4
- The 2021 multistate Listeria outbreak linked to Hispanic-style fresh soft cheese resulted in 12 hospitalizations and one death 4
Specific Cheese Recommendations
Avoid These Cheeses During Pregnancy:
- Soft cheeses such as feta, Brie, Camembert, blue-veined varieties 5, 6
- Mexican-style soft cheeses such as queso fresco 5, 6
- Refrigerated pâtés and meat spreads 5
Safe Cheese Options During Pregnancy:
- Hard cheeses (e.g., cheddar, parmesan)
- Processed cheeses
- Cream cheese (including slices and spreads)
- Cottage cheese
- Yogurt 5, 6
Additional Food Safety Recommendations for Pregnant Women
Beyond avoiding soft cheeses, pregnant women should follow these guidelines to prevent foodborne illness:
- Cook leftover foods or ready-to-eat foods (e.g., hot dogs) until steaming hot before eating 5, 6
- Avoid foods from delicatessen counters (e.g., prepared salads, meats, cheeses) or heat them until steaming before eating 5
- Avoid raw or unpasteurized milk and milk products 5, 6
- Cook poultry to an internal temperature of 180°F (82°C) and red meat to 165°F (74°C) 5, 6
- Prevent cross-contamination by keeping raw foods separate from other foods and thoroughly washing hands and surfaces after contact with raw foods 5, 6
When to Seek Medical Attention
A pregnant woman should seek medical attention if:
- She develops fever higher than 38.1°C (100.6°F) and has symptoms consistent with listeriosis after consuming high-risk foods 1
- She experiences flu-like symptoms, especially when accompanied by gastrointestinal symptoms after consuming potentially contaminated foods 1, 2
Important Caveat
While some recent research suggests improved standards have reduced the prevalence of contaminated foods 7, the most recent and comprehensive guidelines from the CDC and other authoritative bodies still recommend that pregnant women avoid soft cheeses due to the potentially devastating consequences of listeriosis 5, 6, 1, 2.