Can you eat knafeh while pregnant?
Check firstYes, if it is served hot. Knafeh is baked, and oven heat kills Listeria in the cheese or ashta filling, so take a fresh hot slice rather than a cream-filled piece that has been sitting out in a display.
Why
The risk in knafeh is Listeria, which lives in unpasteurized white brine cheeses like akkawi and nabulsi and in ashta clotted cream. The NHS lists unpasteurized milk and cheeses made from it among the foods to avoid in pregnancy, and the CDC's Listeria guidance notes that heating food until it is steaming hot kills the bacteria. A tray that comes out of the oven and is cut hot has had its filling cooked through, which is why hot knafeh is the easy yes. Two versions stay risky: a cream-topped or unbaked knafeh made with raw-milk dairy, and a slice that has cooled in an unrefrigerated case, because Listeria keeps growing at room and even refrigerator temperature.
Safer alternatives
- a hot slice cut straight from the tray at a Middle Eastern bakery
- baklava, which is pastry, nuts and syrup with no dairy filling
- ma'amoul date cookies
- basbousa semolina cake
Sources
- NHS https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/keeping-well/foods-to-avoid/
- CDC https://www.cdc.gov/listeria/prevention/index.html
Every verdict follows our sourcing methodology: official health guidelines only, most cautious position when they differ.
Last reviewed by the pregAI editorial team.
Frequently asked questions
What cheese is in knafeh, and is it pasteurized?
Usually akkawi or nabulsi, sometimes low-moisture mozzarella. Brands sold in US and UK shops are made with pasteurized milk, but imported or locally made brine cheeses are not always, so ask the bakery or check the label. Either way, the baking step is what makes a hot slice safe.
Can I eat cold knafeh from the fridge?
Reheat it until it is steaming first. The CDC points out that Listeria grows at refrigerator temperature, so a cheese or cream dessert that has been chilled for days is worth heating through rather than eating straight from the box. A few minutes in the oven also brings the pastry back.
Is knafeh with ashta cream safe during pregnancy?
Only when it is baked and served hot. Ashta is a dairy cream, so an unbaked cream-filled or cream-topped knafeh left in a room-temperature display is the one to skip. Baked knafeh nabulsieh, eaten hot off the tray, is a safer order.
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Get instant verdicts on any foodpregAI is informational only and is not medical advice. Always check with your doctor or midwife about anything specific to your pregnancy.