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From the YummyYucky team, founded by Nancy Nash

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Can Babies Eat Brie? Safety and Risks

Brie is a soft mold-ripened cheese, and served uncooked, the usual way, it is not safe for babies because it can carry listeria. The only safe path is pasteurized brie cooked to 165°F (74°C) on a food thermometer, and even then it is easy to skip.

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When to introduce
From around 12 months, only pasteurized and cooked to 165°F (74°C); never uncooked
Common allergen?
Yes (milk, a top-9 allergen)
Texture
Soft cheese; melt into food, never a chunk
Key nutrients
Calcium, protein, fat; fairly salty

Brie is a soft, creamy, mold-ripened cheese with a white rind, and it is one of the cheeses that health authorities single out as unsafe to serve uncooked to babies. The reason is listeria, a bacterium that soft mold-ripened and soft blue cheeses can carry12, and young children's immune systems are still developing, so they fight infections less well than adults.3 This does not mean brie is banned forever. It means uncooked brie is off the table, and the only safe way to offer it is to use pasteurized brie and cook it into a dish until it reaches 165°F (74°C) on a food thermometer, steaming hot all the way through. Many families simply choose a firmer, safer cheese instead, which is perfectly fine.

⚠️ Brie is also a milk allergen and fairly salty, so even when properly pasteurized and cooked, keep the amount small and introduce it deliberately on a calm day.

Prep School: how to prepare brie for baby-led weaning (BLW) and purées

🍴 Baby-led weaning

Under 12 monthsNot yet. Soft mold-ripened cheese can carry listeria, so offer a firm pasteurized cheese like cheddar instead.
12 months+ (only if you serve it)Use pasteurized brie only, and cook it until it reaches 165°F (74°C) on a food thermometer, for example melted into a well-cooked dish. Let it cool, then offer a small amount stirred into food, never an uncooked chunk to hold.
Simpler safe optionSkip brie and offer a small amount of grated pasteurized firm cheese, which gives the same calcium and protein without the listeria risk.

🥄 Purées

Under 12 monthsNot yet. Soft mold-ripened cheese can carry listeria, so stir a little grated pasteurized firm cheese like cheddar into food instead.
12 months+ (only if you serve it)Use pasteurized brie only, cooked into a well-cooked dish until it reaches 165°F (74°C) on a food thermometer. Let it cool, then stir a small amount through the food; never serve it uncooked.
Simpler safe optionSkip brie and melt a small amount of pasteurized firm cheese into food instead, for the same calcium and protein without the listeria risk.

Is brie safe? Choking & prep

Brie's main risk is listeria, a bacterium that soft mold-ripened cheeses like brie can carry, rather than choking.12 Young children's immune systems are still developing, so they fight germs less well than adults, and food poisoning in a young child can be dangerous.3 For that reason, do not serve brie uncooked, and do not serve any unpasteurized brie at all. If you do offer it, use brie made from pasteurized milk and cook it until it reaches 165°F (74°C) on a food thermometer, steaming hot all the way through, which kills listeria; let it cool to a safe temperature before serving, and offer only a small amount melted into food rather than a chunk, since soft cheese can still be a choking hazard for little mouths. Brie is also dairy, so it is a milk allergen, one of the top 9, and it is fairly salty, so keep the amount small. Cheese as a food (choosing a safe, firm, pasteurized one) is fine from around 6 months, but for brie specifically the age is later and the rules above are non-negotiable. If in any doubt, skip it.

Nutrition

Like other cheeses, brie provides calcium, protein, and fat, which are useful for a growing baby. None of that is unique to brie, though, and every one of those nutrients is available from safer cheeses that do not carry the same listeria risk, such as pasteurized cheddar or a firm pasteurized cheese. Because of the safety concerns and its salt content, brie is best thought of as an occasional cooked-in flavor rather than a nutrition source you rely on.

Goes well with

Cooked apple · Well-cooked pasta · Soft toast · Roasted vegetables

Storage & freezing

Keep brie tightly wrapped in the fridge and use it by its date; discard it if it smells off or shows unexpected mold beyond the natural white rind. Do not leave soft cheese out at room temperature, since that is exactly the condition in which listeria can grow. If you have cooked brie into a baby's meal, refrigerate leftovers promptly, use them within a day, and reheat to 165°F (74°C) again before serving.

More dairy foods to explore

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BurrataAround 6 months
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ButtermilkAround 6 months (in cooking)
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Cheddar cheeseFrom about 6 months
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CheeseAround 6 months
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ButterAround 6 months
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Cheese curdsAround 9 months

Introducing this allergen

Related reading

Common questions

Can babies eat brie?

Not uncooked. Brie is a soft mold-ripened cheese that can carry listeria, which is dangerous for babies. The only safe way to offer it is pasteurized brie cooked to 165°F (74°C), and many families just choose a firm pasteurized cheese instead.

Why is uncooked brie unsafe for babies?

Soft mold-ripened cheeses like brie can carry listeria12, and young children's immune systems are still developing, so they fight infections less well than adults.3 Cooking pasteurized brie to 165°F (74°C) kills listeria, but uncooked or unpasteurized brie should never be given to a baby.

Is cooked brie safe for a baby?

If it is made from pasteurized milk and cooked to 165°F (74°C) on a food thermometer, cooking kills listeria and makes it much safer. Let it cool first, serve only a small amount melted into food, and remember it is still a milk allergen and fairly salty.

What cheese can I give instead of brie?

A firm pasteurized cheese such as cheddar or Swiss is a safer choice and gives the same calcium and protein. Grate it finely or melt it into food, and introduce it as a milk allergen.

Is brie a common allergen?

Yes. Brie is dairy, so it is a milk allergen, one of the top 9. On top of the listeria concern, introduce any milk food deliberately and watch for a reaction.

Sources

  1. NHS: Foods to avoid giving babies and young children
  2. CDC: How Listeria Spreads (Soft Cheeses and Raw Milk)
  3. CDC: Safer Food Choices for Children Under 5 Years Old

Further reading

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Last updated September 2026. Next review December 2026. How we write these: built from current published guidance from the AAP, CDC, FDA/EPA, NIAID, WHO, and other pediatric and public-health authorities, with sources cited on the page. See our editorial and medical policy for how we research, source, and update these, and how we double-check the food advice.

This is general information, not medical advice, and is not individualized for your baby. Always talk to your pediatrician about your baby's diet, introducing allergens, and any reaction. In an emergency, contact emergency services.

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