Cheese is an important source of protein and calcium in the diet of pregnant women. However much confusion surrounds those cheeses which are safe to eat in pregnancy and those which should be avoided as potential sources of listeria . Sometimes it is not easy to tell the type of cheese so it is best to check the label. If you are not sure play safe and don't eat it.

Cheese to avoid

Ripened soft cheeses:

• Brie
• Cambozola
• Camembert
• Chaumes
• Lymeswold
• Pont L'Eveque
• Tallegio

Blue-veined cheeses:

• Bavarian Blue
• Blue Brie
• Blue Shropshire
• Danish Blue
• Dolcelatte
• Gorgonzola
• Roquefort
• Stilton
• Stilton spread cheese
• Soft unpasteurised goat's and sheep's cheeses

Cheeses which are safe to eat

Hard cheeses:

• Austrian Smoked
• Babybel
• Caerphilly
• Cheddar
• Cheshire
• Derby
• Edam
• Emmental
• English goats' cheddar
• Feta
• Gloucester
• Gouda
• Gruyere
• Halloumi
• Havarti
• Jarlsberg
• Lancashire
• Leicester
• Mozzarella
• Orkney
• Paneer
• Parmesan
• Pecorino (hard)
• Provolone
• Port Salut
• Wensleydale

Soft and processed cheeses:

• Cottage Cheese
• Cheese spread
• Processed cream and processed cheeses
• Borsin
• Mascarpone
• Philadelphia
• Quark
• Ricotta

Yoghurts, Fromage Frais, Soured Cream and Creme Fraiche

• Any variety ie. natural, flavoured and whether biologically active or not, are safe to eat.