Last Updated on September 24, 2022
One of the best-selling cheeses in the United States, Babybel cheese is a type of semisoft, surface-ripened cow’s milk cheese. It’s made by Le Groupe Bel, which also makes Laughing Cow cheese spreads. Babybel is a popular snacking cheese, but can you eat it when pregnant?
Babybel cheese is safe to eat during pregnancy because it is pasteurized. Pasteurized cheese has been heated to high temperatures, which kills harmful bacteria that can cause food poisoning. Not only is Babybel safe to eat, but it is also packed with nutrients like calcium and protein, which are essential for a healthy pregnancy.
Here’s everything you need to know about eating Babybel during pregnancy.
Covered in this Article:
Is Babybel Cheese Safe During Pregnancy?
The main concern with eating cheese during pregnancy is the risk of food poisoning from bacteria like listeria. Listeria is a type of bacteria that can cause an infection called listeriosis, which can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, or preterm labor (source: CDC).
While any type of food can potentially be contaminated with listeria, unpasteurized soft cheeses like feta, queso Blanco, and queso fresco have a higher risk of contamination. This is because these cheeses are often made from unpasteurized milk, which can contain harmful bacteria (source: CDC).
However, Babybel cheese is made from pasteurized milk, which means that the risk of contamination is much lower. All of Bel Group’s cheeses are made from pasteurized milk.
In fact, Babybel stated on their official website, “As all Babybel® cheese is made using pasteurized cow’s milk, it is safe for pregnant women to enjoy Babybel®. Provided that the Babybel® cheese has been kept refrigerated, as directed on our packaging.” (source: Babybel).
However, if you leave Babybel cheese out of its packet for a long time, it can become contaminated with bacteria (source: HHS Public Access Journal). If you’re pregnant and craving a Babybel, be sure to eat it right away or put it back in the fridge.
Pasteurized cheese is safe to eat during pregnancy, but only if it’s fresh. Once the cheese is exposed to the air, it can grow bacteria. So it’s essential to eat Babybel cheese immediately or store it in the fridge.
Are All Babybel Cheeses Safe for Pregnant Women?
All Babybel cheeses are safe for pregnant women to eat. This includes the following:
- Mini Original Babybels
- White Cheddar Babybels
- Light Babybel cheese
These Babybel varieties are made from pasteurized milk and are safe for pregnant women to eat.
Is Babybel a Good Cheese for Pregnant Women?
Babybel is a good cheese for pregnant women. Not only is it safe to eat, but it’s also packed with essential nutrients like calcium and protein.
Calcium is important for the development of your baby’s bones and teeth. The recommended intake of calcium during pregnancy is 500 mg per day (source: Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology of India). One Mini Babybel cheese contains 150 mg of calcium (source: USDA).
Protein is important for your baby’s growth and development (source: Natural Medicine Journal). The recommended protein intake during pregnancy is 75-100 grams per day (source: American Pregnancy Organization). One Mini Babybel cheese contains 5 grams of protein (source: USDA).
So can you eat Babybel cheese when pregnant? Yes, you can! Babybel cheese is made from pasteurized milk and is safe for pregnant women to eat. We hope this article has helped put your mind at ease. Enjoy the important nutrients that Babybel cheese has to offer!
| This article has been reviewed and approved for publication in line with our editorial policy. |