Clean Diet Information


(Remember, to return to the Cancer Information Services Website just close this window)

Print Leaflet

Close window

At present you need to follow a 'clean diet'; this is because you are presently susceptible to infection. This will be due to your illness or the treatment you are receiving. You may have heard the words 'neutropenia' or 'neutropenic' used by staff, this is simply a medical term which means a reduction in the level of your white blood cells. The white blood cells (particularly one type of white cell neutrophils) are necessary to prevent and fight infection.

These common sense guidelines should be followed to avoid any possible infection from food. Should you have any special diet needs or questions about nutrition, please don't hesitate to ask any member of staff. We also have a designated dietician to our clinical area; if requested, she would be available for advice.

1. Wash your hands thoroughly before handling food, keep the kitchen clean, wash worktops prior to food preparation.

2. Once hot foods are prepared, keep them hot. Do not allow chilled foods to become warm.

3. Prepare and store raw and cooked foods separately. After preparing raw meat or fish, clean work surfaces well.

4. Use foods well within their sell-by date and follow the cooking instructions carefully. Pre-heat the oven before cooking. Do not reheat leftovers.

5. Buy food from clean reputable shops with a fast turnover and check 'by' and' best before' dates. Avoid damaged or dented packets or cans.

6. Avoid those foods which have a higher risk of carrying infection e.g. pate, soft cheeses and uncooked eggs.

7. Be extra cautious when using a microwave. Follow cooking instructions precisely and do not reheat leftovers.

8. Avoid take-away meals.

9. Check your fridge and freezer temperatures. A fridge should be kept at O.5°C and a freezer should be at minus 18°C.

10. Keep pets out of the food preparation area and keep utensils used for pets separate from your own.


Some foods are best avoided, if you are in any doubt, please ask a member of staff. Below are a few examples of alternatives that you could safely use:

FOODS TO AVOID

FOODS TO USE

Milk

 

Unpasteurised milk / cream
Artificial cream
Live and Bio yogurt

All pasteurised milk and milk products
Evaporated / condensed milk
Do not freeze milk -use a fresh supply daily

Cheese

 

Unpasteurised cheese
All soft and blue cheese e.g. Brie, Camembert, Danish Blue and Stilton

Hard cheese e.g. Cheddar, Edam, buy small quantities in vacuum packaging
Processed soft cheeses e.g. cheese triangles and cheese spread

Eggs

 

Raw eggs / partially cooked eggs e.g. poached / soft-boiled
Products containing raw eggs e.g. home-made mayonnaise, soft meringue

Hard boiled or well cooked
in dishes such as omelette / scrambled egg
Well-cooked quiches
In baked products e.g. cakes

Butter and margarine

 

 

Use pre-packed portions in hospital.
At home use all butter / margarine within one week of opening

Meat, Poultry and Fish

 

Under-cooked products e.g. meat that is still pink after cooking
Pates and other delicatessen foods such as sausage rolls, pasties, pork pies.
Loose meats such as ham, salami (choose vacuum-packed varieties)

Hot fresh, well-cooked products
Vacuum-packed meats / poultry
Use within 24 hours of opening

Puddings / desserts

 

Live yogurts / unpasteurised

Pasteurised / UHT yogurts and fromage frais
Jelly and instant whips
Tinned / packet / pots of custards and rice pudding

Ice cream

 

Ice cream from ice cream vans etc
Ice lollies and ice pops

Buy a small carton / individual ice cream from a well-known supplier. Store in freezer

Bread. cereals. baked products

 

Unwrapped bread, stale / out-of-date bread

Fresh bread that has come from a sealed packet
Breakfast cereals that are fresh
Porridge and Ready Brek
Pasta / Rice
Biscuits - small packets individually wrapped
e.g. Penguins, Kit-Kats
Cakes - individually wrapped or freshly homemade

Snacks and nibbles

 

Chocolate containing dried fruit I nuts or cream-centred
All other nuts

Sealed small packets or individually wrapped sweets and chocolates e.g. boiled sweets, toffees

Fruit and vegetables

 

Raw salad vegetables that can not be peeled e.g. lettuce, cress
Dried fruit and fruit that can not be washed easily e.g. Strawberries, blackberries

Washed and peeled vegetables
Any frozen I tinned vegetables
Cook pulses well e.g. lentils
Any frozen / tinned fruit Fresh fruit should be washed or peeled

Preserves

 

Uncooked herbs and spices e.g. pepper. Do not sprinkle pepper onto food after it is cooked. It is fine to use in cooking.

Jam / marmalade / honey Buy small jars and keep in fridge
Marmite / Bovril
Sauces e.g. tomato ketchup, small bottles or individual packets (Keep in fridge)
Salt and vinegar
Gravy granules and stock cubes
Dried packet sauce mix

Drinks

 

Non-carbonated bottled waters Bottled water e.g. Evian, Perrier, also ice

Water: tap water labelled "drinking" -ideally run tap for 2 -3 minutes
Carbonated bottled waters (use within 24 hours)

Hot Drinks

 

Unpasteurised freshly squeezed juice

Tea, coffee, hot chocolate, malted milk drinks
Bovril, Marmite, Cuppa soups
UHT fruit juice
Fruit squashes
Fizzy drinks -ideally buy small bottles I cans -wipe top before opening and pour into glass

Alcohol

 

Draught and bottled beer / cider / lager

Wine, cans of beer, cider and lager
NOTE: Consult your doctor before consuming alcohol

Nutritional Supplements
There are a wide range of nutritional supplements that can be taken if you are unable to manage your meals which are available as extra-nutritious drinks.

A variety of other supplements are available that can be added to foods. Your dietitian will be able to advise you on which ones to use.

If you have any problems with eating or concerns about your diet, please speak to the nurses who will advise or refer you to your ward dietician.

Following a 'clean diet' whilst vou are in hospital
Generally, food prepared in the hospital kitchen is suitable, there are however a few foods to avoid. Your ward dietician will give you a leaflet to help you choose from the hospital menu. Please ask for help if you are unsure.

When do I stop the 'clean diet'?
When the number of your white blood cells begins to rise to a safe level, you will be able to stop the 'clean diet'.
Your doctor or nurse will let you know when this happens. It is still sensible to follow general food safety guidelines at all times.


If you need further advice please contact your doctor or nurse specialist.

Print Leaflet

Close window