Safe eating during cancer treatment

Some raw foods can contain germs that can hurt you when cancer or cancer treatment weakens your immune system. Ask your health care provider about how to eat well and safely.

Eggs can have bacteria called Salmonella on their inside and outside. This is why eggs should be cooked completely before eating.

• Yolks and whites should be cooked solid. Do not eat runny eggs.
• Do not eat foods that may have raw eggs in them (such as certain Caesar salad dressings, cookie dough, cake batter, and hollandaise sauce).

Be careful when you have dairy products:

• All milk, yogurt, cheese, and other dairy productsshould have the word pasteurized on their containers.
• Do not eat soft cheeses or cheeses with blue veins (such as Brie, Camembert, Roquefort, Stilton, Gorgonzola, and Bleu).
• Do not eat Mexican-style cheeses (such as Queso Blanco fresco and Cotija).

Fruits and vegetables:

• Wash all raw fruits, vegetables, and fresh herbs with cold running water.
• Do not eat raw vegetable sprouts (such as alfalfa and mung bean).
• Do not use fresh salsa or salad dressings that are kept in the refrigerated cases of the grocery store.
• Drink only juice that says pasteurized on the container.

Do not eat raw honey. Eat only heat-treated honey. Avoid sweets that have creamy fillings.

When you cook, make sure you cook your food long enough.

Do not eat uncooked tofu. Cook tofu for at least 5 minutes.

When eating chicken and other poultry, cook to a temperature of 165°F (74°C). Use a food thermometer to measure the thickest part of the meat.

If you cook beef, lamb, pork, or venison:

• Make sure meat is not red or pink before you eat it.
• Cook meat to 160°F (71°C).

When eating fish, oysters, and other shellfish:

• Do not eat raw fish (such as sushi or sashimi), raw oysters, or any other raw shellfish.
• Make sure all fish and shellfish you eat are cooked thoroughly.

Heat all casseroles to 165°F (74°C). Warm hot dogs and lunch meats to steaming before you eat them.

When you dine out, stay away from:

• Raw fruits and vegetables
• Salad bars, buffets, sidewalk vendors, potlucks, and delis

Ask if all fruit juices are pasteurized.

Use only salad dressings, sauces, and salsas from single-serving packages. Eat out at times when restaurants are less crowded. Always ask for your food to be prepared fresh, even at fast food restaurants.

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Freifeld AG, Kaul DR. Infection in the patient with cancer. In: Niederhuber JE, Armitage JO, Kastan MB, Doroshow JH, Tepper JE, eds. Abeloff's Clinical Oncology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 34.

National Cancer Institute website. Nutrition in cancer care (PDQ) - health professional version. www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/side-effects/appetite-loss/nutrition-hp-pdq. Updated May 16, 2024. Accessed May 29, 2024.

US Department of Health and Human Services website. Safe Minimum Internal Temperatures. www.foodsafety.gov/food-safety-charts/safe-minimum-cooking-temperature. Updated March 14, 2024. Accessed May 29, 2024.

Updated by: Todd Gersten, MD, Hematology/Oncology, Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute, Wellington, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.