Is it safe to eat at restaurants during chemo?

It can be, though some care teams suggest extra caution, since certain cancer treatments lower infection-fighting white blood cells and can make it easier to get sick from contaminated food. Eating out isn't automatically off-limits — it just means food safety basics matter more right now.

A few things to look for: whether meat, fish, and eggs are well cooked; whether hot and cold foods are handled properly, since bacteria grow more easily at in-between temperatures; and how raw produce is handled, since fruits and vegetables that can be peeled, or that are washed very well, tend to carry less risk. Buffets or dishes that have been sitting out are worth thinking twice about, and it can help to avoid especially crowded restaurants.

None of this means treatment has to end your restaurant visits — it just means paying more attention to the basics that keep food safe.

Ask your care team whether your specific treatment raises your risk of foodborne illness, and whether that risk changes at different points in your treatment cycle.