Table 10: Food safety for people with cancer [5].

 

Type of food

Higher-risk

Lower-risk

Meat and poultry

Raw or undercooked meat or poultry

Meat or poultry cooked to a safe minimum internal temperature

Tip: Use a food thermometer to check the internal temperature on the “Is it done yet?” chart for safe minimum internal temperature.

Seafood

Any raw or undercooked fish or shellfish or food containing raw or undercooked seafood e.g. sashimi, found in some sushi or ceviche. Refrigerated smoked fish. Partially cooked seafood, such as shrimp and crab

Previously cooked seafood heated to 165°F

Canned fish and seafood

Seafood cooked to 145°F

Milk

Unpasteurized (raw) milk

Pasteurized milk

Eggs

Foods that contain raw/undercooked eggs, such as:

Homemade Caesar salad dressings*

Homemade raw cookie dough*

Homemade eggnog

At home

Use pasteurized eggs/egg products when preparing recipes that call for raw or undercooked eggs

When eating out:

Ask if pasteurized eggs were used

*Tip: Most pre-made foods from grocery stores, such as Caesar dressing, pre-made cookie dough, or packaged eggnog are made with pasteurized eggs.

Sprouts

Raw sprouts (alfalfa, bean, or any other sprout)

Cooked sprouts

Vegetables

Unwashed fresh vegetables including lettuce/salads

Washed fresh vegetables, including salads.

Cooked vegetables

Cheese

Soft cheeses made from unpasteurized (raw) milk, such as:

Feta,

Brie

Camembert

Blue-veined

Queso fresco

Hard cheeses

Processed cheeses

Cream cheese,

Mozzarella,

Soft cheeses that are clearly labelled “made from pasteurized milk”

Hot Dogs and Deli meats

Hot dogs, deli and luncheon meats that have not been reheated

Hot dogs, luncheon meats and deli meats reheated to steaming hot or 165°F

Tip: You ned to reheat hot dogs, deli meats and luncheon meats before eating them because the bacteria, Listeria monocytogenes grows at refrigerated temperatures (40°F or below). This bacteria may cause severe illness, hospitalization or even death. Reheating these foods until they are steaming hot destroys these dangerous bacteria and makes these foods safe for you to eat.

Pâtés

Unpasteurized, refrigerated pâtés or meat spreads

Canned or shelf-stable pâtés or meat spreads

 

Common foods: Select the lower-risk options