Food & Drink
Is Mozzarella Pasteurized? Pregnancy Cheese Checks
Published 2026-07-21 | By SafeMama Editorial Team | Editorial policy
Short answer
Mozzarella is not automatically pasteurized. You can usually eat mozzarella while pregnant when the label says pasteurized milk, the cheese has stayed cold and it is eaten before the use-by date. Fresh mozzarella, buffalo mozzarella, mozzarella balls and caprese salad need a closer label and handling check. Hot melted mozzarella on pizza or pasta is usually the easier choice when storage is unclear.
Choose pasteurized and chilled
Mozzarella in pregnancy: how to think about it
NHS pregnancy food guidance lists pasteurized mozzarella as a soft cheese that can be eaten and says any cheese cooked until steaming hot can be eaten. CDC lists mozzarella, string cheese, feta, cottage cheese and cream cheese as safer choices when made with pasteurized milk. FDA and FoodSafety.gov guidance focuses on avoiding unpasteurized dairy and controlling ready-to-eat refrigerated foods because pregnancy raises listeria risk. For fresh mozzarella, the practical checks are the label wording, cold storage, use-by date, clean utensils and how long the cheese has been open or sitting out.
Working through a longer grocery list? The Pregnancy Food Safety Hub gathers all 50 SafeMama food and drink guides, grouped by pasteurization, cooking temperature and mercury questions.
Mozzarella: safer choices
- Check the label for pasteurized milk. NHS lists pasteurized mozzarella among soft cheeses that can be eaten in pregnancy.
- For fresh mozzarella, bocconcini, pearls or mozzarella balls, check the tub date, keep it refrigerated and use clean utensils after opening.
- Choose freshly cooked pizza, pasta, baked mozzarella sticks or another steaming-hot dish when a restaurant, deli tray or caprese salad has unclear handling.
Mozzarella: what to avoid or double-check
- Avoid unpasteurized mozzarella, raw-milk mozzarella or cheese where the milk source is not clear.
- Avoid room-temperature buffet platters, shared antipasto trays, open deli tubs, pre-packed salads or caprese plates with unclear refrigeration.
- Avoid cheese that smells off, has unusual mold, leaks, has swollen packaging, is past date or was left out.
How SafeMama helps
SafeMama can flag mozzarella, fresh mozzarella, buffalo mozzarella, bocconcini, mozzarella balls, string cheese, pasteurized and unpasteurized milk wording, raw milk wording, refrigeration instructions, use-by dates, deli handling and listeria food-safety checks.
Open the SafeMama app, scan the barcode or search the ingredient, then use the result as a starting point for a conversation with your healthcare provider.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
Can you eat mozzarella while pregnant?
Usually yes when it is made from pasteurized milk, kept cold, eaten within date and handled with clean utensils. Skip raw-milk mozzarella or cheese with unclear deli or restaurant handling.
Is mozzarella pasteurized?
Not always. Check the ingredient label for pasteurized milk or ask the restaurant. Do not assume fresh mozzarella, buffalo mozzarella or mozzarella balls are pasteurized just because they are sold cold.
How do I know if mozzarella is pasteurized?
Look for wording such as pasteurized milk on the package. If a deli or restaurant cannot confirm the milk source and cold handling, choose a hot cooked cheese dish instead.
Can pregnant women eat fresh mozzarella?
Fresh mozzarella can be okay if it is pasteurized, refrigerated and in date. Be more cautious with opened tubs, deli containers, antipasto trays and restaurant caprese salads.
Is fresh mozzarella safe during pregnancy?
It depends on pasteurization and handling. Pasteurized fresh mozzarella kept cold is a safer choice. Raw-milk mozzarella or room-temperature fresh cheese is not worth the risk.
Can I eat buffalo mozzarella while pregnant?
The animal milk source is not the main safety check. Look for pasteurized milk, cold storage, a current date and safe handling. If staff cannot confirm, choose a cooked cheese dish.
Is mozzarella on pizza safe?
Freshly baked pizza with hot melted mozzarella is usually a lower-risk choice than cold mozzarella with unclear refrigeration. Eat it hot and avoid slices that have sat out.
Are mozzarella sticks or string cheese safe while pregnant?
String cheese made with pasteurized milk is listed by CDC as a safer cheese choice. Mozzarella sticks are usually lower risk when cooked hot and served fresh.
Can I eat caprese salad while pregnant?
Ask whether the mozzarella is pasteurized and kept cold, and make sure the tomatoes and basil are washed. If handling is unclear, skip it or choose a hot cooked option.
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