Can I Eat Camembert When Pregnant?
Camembert is a beloved French cheese, but like brie it sits firmly on the NHS "avoid during pregnancy" list. The guidance is straightforward: do not eat camembert while pregnant unless it has been cooked until it is piping hot all the way through. Here is why, and what you can eat instead.
Why Camembert Is Not Safe in Pregnancy
Camembert is a soft, mould-ripened cheese with a characteristic white bloomy rind. It is never fully cooked during production, and its high moisture content and ripening conditions make it a suitable environment for **listeria monocytogenes** to survive and multiply — even when the cheese has been stored correctly in the fridge.During pregnancy, your immune system is naturally less reactive than usual, which is a normal biological adaptation to protect your baby. This also means your body is less able to fight off bacteria like listeria. For most people outside of pregnancy, listeria causes only mild symptoms. In pregnancy, a listeria infection (listeriosis) can, in rare cases, lead to more serious outcomes including miscarriage, premature birth, or illness in the newborn.
It is important to understand that the risk from any single exposure is low — but because the consequences can be serious, the NHS recommends avoiding soft mould-ripened cheeses as a sensible precaution throughout all three trimesters.
NHS Guidance on Camembert
The NHS advises pregnant women to avoid all soft mould-ripened cheeses, regardless of whether they are made from pasteurised or unpasteurised milk. The category includes:- Camembert (including flavoured varieties)
- Brie
- Soft ripened goat's cheese (chèvre with a white rind)
- Any similar cheese with a bloomy or washed rind
Pasteurised milk reduces the bacterial load before cheese-making begins, but listeria can still grow during the ripening stage that follows. This is why pasteurisation does not make camembert safe for pregnant women.
When camembert is safe: if you bake camembert in the oven until it is completely melted and steaming throughout — not just soft on top — the heat destroys any listeria present. A baked camembert shared with the table at a dinner party, served with bread, is generally considered safe as long as it is genuinely piping hot all the way through. Do not eat any part of it that has not fully melted and heated.
Safer Cheese Choices During Pregnancy
Pregnancy does not mean a cheese-free diet. Many cheeses are perfectly safe, including:- Hard cheeses — Cheddar, Red Leicester, Double Gloucester, Gruyère, Parmesan. Hard cheeses are safe even when made from unpasteurised milk, because their low moisture content inhibits bacterial growth.
- Mozzarella — safe when made from pasteurised milk and eaten fresh
- Cream cheese and cottage cheese — safe as long as they are pasteurised (most UK supermarket products are)
- Hard blue cheeses — Stilton is safe because of its firm texture and low moisture
- Processed cheese — sliced and spreadable processed cheeses are pasteurised and safe
If you are craving the gooey, creamy quality of camembert, a melted Gruyère on toast or a good cream cheese with herbs can scratch a similar itch without any risk.
What If You Have Already Eaten Camembert?
A single accidental exposure is unlikely to cause harm. Do not panic. Keep an eye out for flu-like symptoms in the following days — a high temperature, muscle aches, chills, nausea, or diarrhoea. If you develop any of these symptoms, contact your GP or call NHS 111 and make it clear you are pregnant. They can advise whether testing or treatment is appropriate.Frequently Asked Questions
### What if I accidentally ate camembert while pregnant?Don't worry unduly. The risk from one exposure is low. Monitor yourself for symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, or gastrointestinal upset over the next few days. If you feel unwell, call your GP or NHS 111 straight away and mention that you are pregnant so they can prioritise your care.
Is camembert safe if it was baked or cooked?
Yes — with conditions. Camembert that has been baked until it is piping hot and completely melted all the way through is generally considered safe, because the cooking process destroys listeria. It must be thoroughly hot throughout, not just warm. Do not eat any unmelted, cooler portions from the edges.
What other soft cheeses should I avoid in pregnancy?
Avoid all soft mould-ripened and washed-rind cheeses: brie, camembert, chèvre with a white bloomy rind, taleggio, and unpasteurised soft cheeses of any kind. Also avoid soft blue cheeses like gorgonzola and roquefort unless thoroughly cooked. Your midwife can give you a full list at your booking appointment.
Speak to your midwife or GP if you have any questions about foods to avoid during your pregnancy — they are always happy to help.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.
Last reviewed: June 2026
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