Unpasteurized foods in pregnancy: Understanding the Infection Risk

Pasteurisation is a treatment used to reduce harmful microorganisms in food and drink. During pregnancy, checking for it is particularly useful when buying milk, dairy products and juice. Descriptions such as natural or freshly made do not tell you whether a product has received that treatment.

Start with milk and dairy labels

Choose pasteurised milk. Avoid raw milk and products such as unpasteurised yogurt or ice cream during pregnancy. Ask the seller when a farm product or homemade food has no clear ingredients label. The animal species does not remove the need to check.

If you are offered a homemade dessert, a useful question is whether the milk and cream were pasteurised. You can choose a different food if the answer is uncertain. There is no need to decide whether a producer appears trustworthy as a substitute for knowing the preparation.

Treat cheese as a separate decision

Pasteurisation is an important check, but it is not the only cheese precaution. Some cheeses can become contaminated after processing or allow bacteria to grow. UK guidance requires soft cheeses with a white mould rind and soft blue cheeses to be cooked until steaming hot, even when made from pasteurised milk. It also permits hard cheeses made from unpasteurised milk.

US advice has its own additional cautions, including unheated queso fresco type cheeses even when pasteurised. The cheese guide explains these differences. A single rule saying all cheese is safe once pasteurised would miss important details.

Ask about juice treatment

Choose pasteurised juice or juice treated by another validated process to kill harmful bacteria. A freshly squeezed drink sold by the glass may be untreated and may not carry a warning label. Ask the juice bar directly rather than relying on the word fresh.

Acidity does not reliably make untreated juice safe. A homemade blend also depends on safe ingredients and preparation. The produce guide explains washing fruit and vegetables before use.

Continue safe storage after treatment

Pasteurised products still need the storage conditions stated on their packaging. Refrigerate when directed and follow opening and use by instructions. Treatment at the factory is not a guarantee against later contamination or poor handling.

If you develop fever or other illness after possibly contaminated food, seek medical advice promptly and mention pregnancy. If you feel well but have questions about a recalled product or an uncertain exposure, discuss the details with your clinician. Exposure alone does not establish that you have an infection or need treatment.