How do I keep food safe during cancer treatment?

A few specific steps can help. The National Cancer Institute recommends making sure meat, fish, and eggs are well cooked, since thorough cooking kills harmful bacteria that raw or undercooked food can carry. It also recommends keeping hot foods hot and cold foods cold, because bacteria grow more easily in food that sits at in-between temperatures.

For raw fruits and vegetables, NCI suggests choosing produce that can be peeled, or washing raw produce very well if you're eating it unpeeled. Other helpful habits include washing your hands well before preparing or eating food, keeping raw and cooked foods separate while cooking, and paying attention to expiration dates and how food has been stored.

These steps matter more during cancer treatment because some treatments lower the number of white blood cells your body uses to fight infection, which can make it easier to get sick from contaminated food.

NCI also points to a dedicated resource called "Food Safety for People with Cancer" for more detailed guidance. Ask your care team whether your specific treatment raises your risk, and whether that risk changes at different points in your treatment.