Is Mozzarella Cheese Safe During Pregnancy? (Updated 2026 Guide)
Updated September 9, 2026
The Answer
Yes you can eat pasteurized mozzarella during pregnancy if you keep it refrigerated and follow its use by and after opening instructions. Our catalog contains 10 mozzarella products with A ingredient grades, but those grades do not certify pasteurization, handling or freedom from contamination.
The main pregnancy consideration is foodborne contamination, including Listeria, rather than the ordinary cheese making ingredients listed here. Choose the exact pasteurized version and follow its storage instructions, because an ingredient score cannot tell you whether a package is uncontaminated. Ordinary fresh mozzarella is distinct from mold ripened, blue and queso fresco type cheeses, which have different precautions.
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✓ What's Safe
- • Check the exact package for pasteurized milk, whether it is cow's milk or buffalo milk.
- • Choose mozzarella that has been kept refrigerated, and keep it refrigerated at home.
- • Check the use by date before buying and again before eating.
- • Follow the package's after opening instructions and note when you opened it.
- • When ordering fresh mozzarella, ask whether the exact cheese uses pasteurized milk and has been stored correctly.
✗ What to Avoid
- • Avoid mozzarella made with unpasteurized milk.
- • Avoid assuming that fresh, organic or buffalo mozzarella automatically means pasteurized.
- • Do not eat mozzarella past its use by date or after the stated opened storage period.
- • Avoid mozzarella that has not been kept refrigerated as instructed.
- • Do not use an A ingredient grade or a familiar brand as a substitute for checking the current package.
- • Do not apply mozzarella guidance to every soft cheese; mold ripened, blue and queso fresco type cheeses need separate precautions.
Most Common Ingredients in Mozzarella Cheese Products
We analyzed 10 mozzarella cheese products. Here are the most common ingredients, ranked by how often they appear:
Mozzarella Cheese Products We've Analyzed
Our catalog contains ratings for 10 mozzarella cheese products. These are database grades, not independent safety certifications.
Catalog ingredient grades are not pregnancy safety certifications, a check of current labels, or measurements of caffeine, pathogens or handling. Not all candidates were independently reviewed.
Pregnancy Safe Mozzarella Cheese Products
Popular options from our catalog, prioritizing A and B ingredient grades, with C grade options used to fill remaining places. Within each group, products are ordered by searches in Pregnancy Safe, not retail sales. Read the cautions and guidance above; grades do not verify a complete current label or guarantee pregnancy safety.
| Grade | Product | Brand |
|---|---|---|
| A | Ciliegine Whole Milk Fresh Mozarella | Bel Gioioso |
| A | Ovolini Fresh Mozzarella | Belgioioso |
| A | Natural Cheese Whole Milk Mozzarella | Polly-O |
| A | Buffalo Milk Mozzarella | Fattorie Garofalo |
| A | Ciliegine Fresh Mozzarella, Ciliegine | Belfiore Cheese |
Your Questions Answered
Is it safe to eat mozzarella while pregnant?
Yes, pasteurized mozzarella can be eaten during pregnancy when stored and handled correctly. Check the milk description on the exact package rather than relying on the cheese's name. Keep it refrigerated and follow both the use by date and after opening instructions.
Is fresh mozzarella safe during pregnancy?
Fresh mozzarella can be a suitable choice when made with pasteurized milk and kept refrigerated. The word fresh does not confirm pasteurization, so check the label or ask the seller. Follow the package's instructions for storage and how soon to eat it after opening.
Can I eat pasteurized mozzarella cold?
Ordinary pasteurized mozzarella does not need to be cooked solely because you are pregnant. You can eat it cold if it has been properly refrigerated and is within its use by and after opening limits. This guidance does not extend to all fresh cheeses: queso fresco type cheeses have separate heating precautions even when pasteurized.
Is buffalo mozzarella safe during pregnancy?
The important check is whether the buffalo milk was pasteurized, not simply which animal produced it. Look for pasteurized buffalo milk on the exact package. Refrigeration, the use by date and after opening instructions still matter.
How can I tell whether mozzarella is pasteurized?
Look for pasteurized milk in the ingredient list or an explicit statement on the package. Appearance, texture and terms such as fresh or traditional cannot establish pasteurization. If the label is unclear, ask the manufacturer or restaurant before choosing it; missing information alone does not prove the cheese is harmful.
Does an A ingredient grade mean mozzarella is guaranteed safe?
No. Our catalog contains 10 mozzarella products with A ingredient grades, but these are not pregnancy safety certifications or checks of every current label. They cannot detect Listeria or establish how a package was stored. You still need to confirm pasteurization and follow the package's handling instructions.
How to Interpret These Ratings
Our ingredient and category rules generate letter grades from the information recorded in the catalog. Missing ingredients and broad category assignments can affect the result. These grades do not measure your dose, confirm a complete current label, or test a product for contamination.
A high grade is not a guarantee of pregnancy safety. A low grade is not, by itself, proof of harm from every use. Follow the product-specific guidance above, check the actual package, and ask your prenatal clinician about supplements, treatment decisions or uncertain exposures.
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See our full guide to cheese during pregnancy.