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Disclaimer: This guide is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always confirm medicine, supplement and product decisions with your obstetrician, midwife, pharmacist or healthcare provider.

Food & Drink

Is Ricotta Cheese Safe During Pregnancy?

Published 2026-07-14 | By SafeMama Editorial Team | Editorial policy

Is Ricotta Cheese Safe During Pregnancy? pregnancy safety guide image

Short answer

Ricotta can fit pregnancy food-safety guidance when it is made with pasteurized milk, kept cold, eaten before the use-by date, and handled safely.

Usually okay if pasteurized and handled safely

What is the safest way to think about this?

NHS food guidance lists pasteurized soft cheeses including ricotta among foods pregnant people can eat, while CDC pregnancy food-safety guidance emphasizes pasteurized dairy and heating higher-risk cheeses until steaming hot. The risk is less the word ricotta and more the milk source and handling.

What is generally okay?

  • Choose ricotta made with pasteurized milk and keep it refrigerated.
  • Use clean utensils, avoid cross-contamination, and follow the date on the package.
  • When restaurant or deli handling is unclear, a hot cooked ricotta dish is the lower-risk choice.

What should you avoid or double-check?

  • Avoid raw or unpasteurized ricotta during pregnancy.
  • Avoid tubs that have been left at room temperature or handled with shared deli utensils.
  • Avoid eating ricotta if the package is swollen, smells off, is moldy, or is past its date.

How SafeMama helps

SafeMama can help users check dairy labels for pasteurized milk, soft cheese terms, storage instructions, and food-safety cautions before eating ricotta in salads, pasta, desserts, or takeout.

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

Is cooked ricotta safer during pregnancy?

Cooking until steaming hot can reduce bacterial risk, especially when handling or storage is uncertain.

Can I eat ricotta in lasagna while pregnant?

Usually yes if the ricotta was pasteurized and the dish was cooked thoroughly and served hot.

Is homemade ricotta safe?

Only if the milk is pasteurized and the cheese is made, cooled, stored, and eaten safely. When in doubt, choose a commercial pasteurized option.

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