Can I Eat Unpasteurized While Pregnant?
Best to avoidGeneral guidance from CDC. Please always check with your provider.
This is one to skip for now, and choosing pasteurized milk instead keeps you and your baby protected.
Why
Unpasteurized, or raw, milk can carry Listeria, E. coli, and Salmonella because it has not been heated to kill these bacteria. In pregnancy, a Listeria infection is especially dangerous and can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or serious infection in the newborn, even when you feel only mildly ill. The CDC advises pregnant people to drink only pasteurized milk for this reason.
How to enjoy it safely
Choose pasteurized milk, which is the standard for cartons and jugs at the grocery store and offers the same calcium, protein, and vitamin D without the bacterial risk. If you buy from a farm or farmers market, confirm the milk is pasteurized before drinking it.
When to ask your provider
Ask your Garden OB/GYN provider right away if you have consumed raw milk and develop fever, chills, or muscle aches.
More foods that are best to avoid
This page is for general education and is not medical advice. It summarizes guidance from CDC, which can change, and individual situations vary, so please confirm with your Garden OB/GYN provider.
Questions about your pregnancy diet?
Our providers across Brooklyn, NYC, and Long Island are happy to help you eat well and worry less.
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