Without a shadow of a doubt one of my favourite flavours of ice cream is cookie dough and during the late stages of my summer pregnancy it seemed like I could never get enough!
In this post, we going to take answer the question can you eat cookie dough ice cream while pregnant and give you some alternatives if you decide it’s not for you.
Let’s get started.
Yes, you can eat cookie dough ice cream while pregnant so long as it’s commercially produced. However, raw cookie dough itself is still a no-no.
That said, while commercially made cookie dough ice cream is fine to eat, you should stay away from homemade as this can be unsafe.
Which Types of Cookie Dough Ice Cream are Safe for Pregnant Women to Eat?
So the good news is that nearly all store bought cookie dough ice creams are fine to eat as they’re made with pasteurized eggs, milk and cream which kills off any harmful bacteria.
However, you should always check the label yourself to make sure the contents are pasteurized as manufacturing can in rare situations change.
At the time of writing, the following brands are safe to eat:
Ben And Jerry’s Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream
Probably one of the most popular choices at the grocery store, Ben And Jerry’s Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream is pasteurized and safe to eat.
In fact, their whole ‘Moophoria’ range is fine to eat during pregnancy.
Häagen-Dazs Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream
Next is another favorite – Häagen-Dazs Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream. In the name of research I headed out and picked up a tub and after looking at the back of the container I can confirm that the ingredients are all pasteurized.
Dairy Queen’s Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream Blizzard
As we mentioned in our guide to frozen yoghurt, the Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream Blizzard is fine to eat from Dairy Queen, however, care must be taken due to the serving machines being a potential source of Listeria.
That said, Dairy Queen are known for their high standards when it comes to cleaning so it’s more than likely to be safe.
Which Cookie Dough Ice Cream isn’t Safe for Pregnant Women?
There are two main types of cookie dough ice cream that are best avoided during pregnancy:
- Homemade
- Soft serve
Homemade Cookie Dough Ice Cream
First up on our list of ice creams to avoid is homemade cookie dough ice cream. Due to the risk of salmonella from the unpasteurized milk, cream and eggs, it’s best to avoid any homemade ice cream.
Also, unless you’re using store bought cookie dough you should avoid eating this too.
Soft-Serve Cookie Dough Ice Cream
As we mentioned above, while the ingredients here will typically be safe to eat due to the commercial manufacturing process, it’s the machines that can cause issues due to the risk of listeria.
Typically most commercial ice cream spots will have stringent cleaning policies so really the ones to avoid are those small street vendors you’ll often see around the city.
Cookie Dough Ice Cream Nutrition for Pregnant Women
The final thing to keep in mind is that while ice cream of all types is often high up on the cravings list, it’s not the best source of nutrition.
High in fat and sugar, cookie dough ice cream should be seen as more of a treat during pregnancy rather than a staple of your diet.
The Bottom Line
So there you have it, hopefully you now have an answer to can you eat cookie dough ice cream while pregnant and have a list of the brands that are safe to eat.
Ellen Fetters
Ellen Fetters, is a former Children's and Young People's Nursing Practice with an BSc from the University of Sunderland. After completing her SCPHN - HV she then worked as a Health Visitor within the local community.
In 2017 Ellen left nursing to launch Parenting Click, an online parenting resource aimed at creating happier families through better parenting.
She lives with her husband, beautiful baby girl, and two darling dogs. She spends her free time writing, running and learning how to become a better parent.