Can you eat quark while pregnant?
Check firstYes, if it says pasteurized. Nearly all supermarket quark is pasteurized and safe, but a raw-milk or homemade batch carries a Listeria risk because quark is a soft, high-moisture cheese.
Why
Quark is a fresh, unripened soft cheese, and the CDC and FDA group soft cheeses made from unpasteurized milk among the foods pregnant people should avoid because of Listeria, which can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, or infection in a newborn. Pasteurization removes that risk, and virtually every tub of quark on a supermarket shelf in the US, UK, and Germany is made from pasteurized milk and labeled as such. So check the tub once, then enjoy it freely as a high-protein breakfast or baking ingredient.
Safer alternatives
- Pasteurized Greek yogurt
- Pasteurized cottage cheese
- Pasteurized skyr
- Pasteurized cream cheese
Sources
- CDC https://www.cdc.gov/listeria/prevention/index.html
- NHS https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/keeping-well/foods-to-avoid/
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
Is low-fat quark safe during pregnancy?
Yes. Fat content has nothing to do with the Listeria risk, only pasteurization does. Low-fat and full-fat pasteurized quark are equally safe, and quark is a useful source of protein and calcium in pregnancy.
Can I eat a quark cheesecake while pregnant?
Baked quark cheesecake is fine, since the cheese is pasteurized and then cooked. For no-bake versions, the thing to check is raw egg in the filling, which carries a salmonella risk unless pasteurized egg is used.
Is homemade quark or tvorog safe?
Only if it was made with pasteurized milk. Quark made from raw farm milk should be avoided in pregnancy because Listeria survives and multiplies in fresh soft cheese, even in the fridge.
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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.