Brie Cheese

Dairy

Is Brie Cheese Safe for Babies?

No, babies should not eat raw unpasteurized brie cheese due to high foodborne illness risk; pasteurized brie can be introduced around 12 months if served safely.

Is my baby ready for Brie Cheese?

Yes, butthere are some things to know

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At a Glance

Is Brie Cheese an Allergen?

Brie is made from cow’s milk and can be a common milk allergen for people with dairy protein sensitivities. It is rich in calcium and contains high quality protein, nutrients that help support bone and muscle health.

How Do You Serve Brie Cheese?

1
Delay offering brie because soft, mold-ripened cheeses carry a higher risk of foodborne bacteria such as Listeria.
2
If you choose to share a small taste, use pasteurized brie and heat it to at least 165°F (74°C) to reduce the chance of illness.
3
Allow the heated cheese to cool to warm (not hot) before serving. Spread a thin layer of the soft interior on well-toasted bread or a firm cracker to limit stickiness and lower choking risk.
4
Offer only a very small taste and remove or avoid the rind if the texture is tough or you're unsure about its safety.

Is Brie Cheese a Common Allergen?

Dairy

Egg

Fish

Gluten

Tree Nut

Peanut

Sesame

Shellfish

Soy

Contains dairy (milk) — do not give to anyone with a cow’s‑milk allergy. Brie is a soft‑ripened cheese and may be made from unpasteurized (raw) milk; unpasteurized soft cheeses can carry Listeria, so pregnant people, infants, older adults, and immunocompromised individuals should avoid unpasteurized Brie and choose pasteurized products. Note that cow’s‑milk protein allergy is common in infancy (affecting ~2–3% of babies), so check labels and consult your pediatrician if you suspect or know of a milk allergy.

What Nutrients Does Brie Cheese Have?

Brie is calorie-dense and provides useful protein, calcium, phosphorus and B vitamins (notably B12/riboflavin) that support bone growth, energy and nervous-system development; its high fat content can help meet infants' energy and brain-development needs. However, brie is high in saturated fat and sodium and low in iron, so offer small portions of pasteurized brie (typically after 12 months) to avoid excess saturated fat and to prevent displacing iron-rich foods. Because dairy is a common allergen and milk-protein reactions can occur, introduce brie cautiously and consult a pediatrician if there’s allergy or medical risk.

Is Brie Cheese a Choking Hazard?

Very Low Choking Risk

Brie can be sticky and tends to form a glob in the mouth, which increases the risk of choking for babies and young toddlers. Because of this, stay within arm’s reach and closely supervise any baby while they eat brie so you can react quickly. Make sure caregivers know the signs of choking and basic infant/child choking first aid before offering this food.

Have More Questions?

Yes. For babies, always serve only pasteurized brie cheese to reduce the risk of foodborne illness, and consider baking it to at least 165°F to further ensure safety.

It depends. Raw, unpasteurized brie carries a high risk of illness for babies and toddlers, so opt for pasteurized varieties and bake if necessary.

Yes. To minimize risk, serve only pasteurized brie and ensure it’s prepared safely, such as baking it to the proper temperature.

It depends. Brie from reputable sources that is pasteurized can be given to children over 12 months, but unpasteurized brie is not recommended.

Yes. Brie cheese is a dairy product, so it should be introduced carefully, watching for any allergic reactions, especially since it contains milk.

Is Brie Cheese safe for your baby?

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Sources

American Academy of Pediatrics — Consumption of raw or unpasteurized milk and milk products (2014) doi.org
Schvartzman et al. — Modeling the growth of Listeria monocytogenes on smear- or mold-ripened cheese (2014) frontiersin.org
KidsHealth — Listeria infections (2017) kidshealth.org
National Health Service — Foods to avoid giving babies and young children (2018) nhs.uk
Choi et al. — Cheese Microbial Risk Assessments: A Review (2016) doi.org
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — Listeria prevention (2019) cdc.gov
European Food Safety Authority — Listeria (2019) efsa.europa.eu
Warren et al. — The epidemiology of milk allergy in US children (2013) doi.org
El-Agamy — The challenge of cow milk protein allergy (2007) doi.org
GIKids — Cow's milk protein allergy gikids.org
Nowak-Węgrzyn — Food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome and allergic proctocolitis (2015) doi.org
InformedHealth (IQWiG) — Living with lactose intolerance (2010) informedhealth.org
U.S. Food & Drug Administration — Dangers of raw milk fda.gov
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — Raw Milk cdc.gov