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Neutropenic Diet

When neutrophils are low, food hygiene matters. Choose safer foods and preparation methods.

Neutropenia means neutrophils are low — your body is more vulnerable to infection. Avoid foods more likely to cause infection. Continue to eat well to fight infection, tolerate treatment and improve strength.

General Food Hygiene

  • Wash hands properly; protect cuts before handling food
  • Cooked food heated to at least 70°C and eaten immediately
  • Avoid reheating food
  • Fridge food: covered, labelled, consume within 24 hours of opening
  • Consume within 'use by' date
  • Buy from clean, reputable shops
  • Cans clean and undamaged; wash tops before opening
  • Do not drink from cans/bottles — use clean glass or straw
  • Do not eat foods sold loose from delicatessen/butcher/baker
  • Defrost frozen food in a refrigerator

Storage Rules

Dry goods (biscuits, cereals): reseal or sealed container up to one week.

Moist foods (milk, desserts): refrigerate and consume within 24 hours.

Food Categories: Avoid vs Alternatives

Drinks

Avoid

Large cartons/bottles of fruit/squash. Draught and bottle beers.

Alternatives

Bottled water. Canned drinks. Tetrapaks. Tea, coffee, hot chocolate.

Drinks

Fruits & Vegetables

Avoid

Unwashed fruit. Unwashed/uncooked vegetables/salad. Shop-bought salads. Salad sandwiches. Dried fruit unless cooked.

Alternatives

Fresh fruit washed, peeled, cored, damaged areas removed. Vegetables cooked or canned. Canned fruit.

Fruits vegetables

Meat & Fish

Avoid

Raw fish (e.g. sushi). Shellfish. Rare/undercooked meats. Meat or fish from delicatessen.

Alternatives

Well cooked fresh, frozen, canned fish and meat. Paste. Ready cook/freeze meals following manufacturer instructions.

Meat fish

Eggs

Avoid

Raw or cracked eggs. Dishes with raw/undercooked eggs (homemade mayonnaise, mousse).

Alternatives

Well-cooked boiled, scrambled, fried, omelette. Shop-bought mayonnaise in jar (not deli style).

Eggs

Milk & Yogurt

Avoid

Unpasteurised milk. Unpasteurised/'Live'/'Bio' yogurts with nuts. Pre/probiotic drinks. Milk with damaged lid.

Alternatives

Pasteurised, canned, UHT, dried milk. Pasteurised yogurt. UHT mild desserts.

Milk yogurt

Bread & Cereals

Avoid

Cereals containing nuts and dried fruit (muesli, crunchy nut).

Alternatives

Cornflakes, Weetabix, porridge. Pasta, rice. Bread, chapattis, pitta.

Bread cereals

Ice Cream

Avoid

Soft ice cream. Sweets/chocolate with dried fruits and nuts. 'Pick & mix' sweets.

Alternatives

Individually wrapped ice creams. Pre-wrapped sweets, biscuits and chocolates.

Ice cream

Cakes & Puddings

Avoid

Cakes or puddings decorated with dried fruit/nuts.

Alternatives

Freshly baked/canned puddings and cakes — rice pudding, custard, sponge, fruit cake, mousse, jellies. Discard after 24 hours.

Cakes

Cheese

Avoid

Soft and ripened cheeses (Brie, Feta, blue). Fresh/frozen cheesecake. Cheese from unpasteurised milk.

Alternatives

Hard cheeses cooked or individually wrapped (Cheddar — cut off rind). Processed cheeses (Philadelphia, Kraft singles), cottage cheese.

Cheese

Cream

Avoid

Unpasteurised cream.

Alternatives

Pasteurised UHT and spray can cream. Discard spray cream after 24 hours.

Cream

Herbs & Spices

Avoid

Uncooked herbs and spices including pepper. Nuts. Ice.

Alternatives

Spicy cooked dishes (chilli, curry). Soups opened, refrigerated, consume within 24 hours. Salt. Only dry roasted nuts.

Herbs spices

Medical disclaimer: Content on this website is for patient education only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your doctor about your individual condition.