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Mozzarella is permitted during pregnancy if it is pasteurized. It provides important nutrients, but can also pose risks if the wrong type is chosen.
Mozzarella during pregnancy is generally not a problem
If you crave mozzarella during pregnancy, you can indulge your cravings. However, there are a few things you should keep in mind.
- Mozzarella contains many vitamins and trace elements. It also provides valuable calcium for your baby’s bone development and high-quality protein for growth. Vitamin B12 and phosphorus also make it an important source of nutrients during pregnancy.
- Mozzarella definitely provides healthy ingredients—pregnant women can also benefit from this, as long as they only use industrially packaged mozzarella.
- Although mozzarella is usually made from pasteurized milk, the cheese is not heated to very high temperatures during production.
- This means that germs, including listeria, can easily form on cheese that is sold unpackaged. These germs can be a problem for the child.
Avoid raw milk cheese for the health of your baby
Mozzarella made from raw milk is taboo for pregnant women.
- Raw milk is not pasteurized, meaning it is not heated. As a result, it may contain salmonella or the aforementioned listeria. These bacteria can cross the placental barrier and thus spread to the unborn child. This can result in miscarriage or, after birth, meningitis, pneumonia, and neonatal sepsis.
- Cheese made from raw milk must be labeled as such. So always check the packaging carefully when shopping.
- Incidentally, the risk of listeria infection is not limited to raw milk or mozzarella sold in open containers. You should avoid all types of cheese made from raw milk during pregnancy.
- Limburger and Münster cheeses are also not suitable for consumption during pregnancy. This also applies to Handkäse, Romadur, ready-to-eat grated cheese, and feta.
- In principle, there is no reason not to eat semi-hard cheeses such as Gouda, Leerdamer, or Tilsiter. However, you should always cut off the rind, as it may contain listeria.
Tips for safely enjoying mozzarella during pregnancy
To enjoy mozzarella without any worries, there are a few additional points to keep in mind:
- Heating makes mozzarella safe: Use the cheese to top pizza, lasagna, or casseroles. Temperatures above 70°C kill any listeria bacteria. Mozzarella is also safe in warm sandwiches or gratins.
- Pay attention to storage: Always store mozzarella in the refrigerator. Transfer opened packages to a clean, sealable container and consume the cheese within 1 to 2 days. Do not leave it unrefrigerated for long periods of time, as bacteria can multiply quickly at room temperature.
- Check the packaging: Make sure that the package is labeled “pasteurized.” If this information is missing and the package instead says “made from raw milk,” you should avoid the cheese. Mozzarella sold in German supermarkets is almost always pasteurized.
- Official recommendations: The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) and the German Nutrition Society (DGE) advise pregnant women to avoid raw milk products. Pasteurized dairy products such as mozzarella, on the other hand, are considered safe if they are processed hygienically and stored properly.
