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Nutrition and daily life

Milk safety: pasteurised only

Milk, yogurt and cheese provide protein and calcium. But unpasteurised (raw) milk and products made from it can carry Listeria, Brucella, Salmonella and E. coli. This section explains how to choose dairy foods during treatment.

Last updated: ~1 min read
A sealed carton and a glass of milk.
Figure 1.Pasteurised milk — Milk safety: pasteurised only

01Short answer

Choose only pasteurised or UHT milk, yogurt, cottage cheese and cheese. During treatment avoid raw milk from markets, villages or neighbours, homemade yogurt, homemade cheese, brined white cheese and other raw-milk products. Avoid mould-ripened cheeses (brie, camembert, blue cheeses) unless your team says otherwise. Hard pasteurised cheeses and sealed yogurts are usually safe. Use opened milk within 2–3 days and throw away anything past its date.

02Simple explanation

Pasteurised only.

No raw milk.

No homemade cheese.

No mould-ripened cheese.

03Scientific explanation

FDA: raw milk can carry dangerous bacteria; pasteurisation kills them and does not significantly change milk's nutritional value.

WHO: foodborne illness is more severe in people with weakened immunity; the five keys are keep clean, separate, cook thoroughly, keep food at safe temperatures, and use safe water and raw materials.

04What happens in the body?

Probiotics

Talk to your team about yogurts with live cultures; some centres limit them during neutropenia.

Farm milk and village cheese aside.
Figure 2.Raw milk aside — Milk safety: pasteurised only

Ice cream

Factory-sealed ice cream is usually fine; avoid soft-serve from machines.

Yogurt and hard cheese on a plate.
Figure 3.Yogurt and hard cheese.

Neutropenia

When neutrophils are low, even ordinary germs can cause serious infection, which is why the rules are stricter.

General rules

This section is part of the general food-safety rules in “Handwashing: the simplest protection” and “Eggs and dairy: safe choices” and “Food safety: four simple rules”.

05Safety: four steps

Check, swap the risky, prepare properly, use in time.

Check — Date and condition.1CheckDate and condition.
Swap — A safe choice.2SwapA safe choice.
Prepare — Clean and thorough.3PrepareClean and thorough.
In time — No delay.4In timeNo delay.
CleanHands and surfaces.
CookGerms die.
ColdGrowth slows.

06Key points at a glance

TopicIn brief
ProbioticsTalk to your team about yogurts with live cultures; some centres limit them during neutropenia.
Ice creamFactory-sealed ice cream is usually fine; avoid soft-serve from machines.
NeutropeniaWhen neutrophils are low, even ordinary germs can cause serious infection, which is why the rules are stricter.
General rulesThis section is part of the general food-safety rules in “Handwashing: the simplest protection” and “Eggs and dairy: safe choices” and “Food safety: four simple rules”.

07Key terms

Pasteurisation
Heat treatment that kills germs.
UHT
Milk treated at ultra-high temperature.
Foodborne infection
An infection spread through food or water.
Neutropenia
Low neutrophils.

08Key points

  • Pasteurised only.
  • Avoid homemade dairy.
  • Use opened milk quickly.
  • When in doubt, throw it out.
  • Call if you have a fever.

09Frequently asked questions

What if I boil raw milk?

Boiling kills germs, but pasteurised milk is more reliable, and homemade cheeses are made from unboiled milk.

Is yogurt good?

Sealed pasteurised yogurt is usually fine; ask your team about live cultures.

Are these rules for ever?

No. They are usually relaxed as blood counts recover; your team will say.

10Questions for your doctor

Take these questions to your appointment. The ones you save are collected on the “My questions” page and stay on this device only.

  1. What if I boil raw milk?

  2. Is yogurt good?

  3. Are these rules for ever?

My questions

12Sources

  1. World Health Organization. Five Keys to Safer Food manual
  2. World Health Organization. Food safety fact sheet
  3. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Safe Food Handling
  4. National Cancer Institute. Eating Hints: Before, During, and After Cancer Treatment
  5. American Cancer Society. Cancer-related Fatigue
  6. American Cancer Society. Physical Activity and the Person with Cancer
  7. Cancer.Net (ASCO). Fatigue
  8. World Health Organization (WHO). Physical activity — fact sheet
  9. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Food Safety for Older Adults and People with Cancer, Diabetes, HIV/AIDS, Organ Transplants, and Autoimmune Diseases
  10. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Antibacterial Soap? You Can Skip It
Medical disclaimerThis information is for educational purposes only and does not replace medical advice.
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