Neutropenic diet is a diet with very low bacterial count to help protect people with weakened immune systems. This can be caused by several reasons:

• Immune suppression following transplant procedures (e.g., bone marrow, heart or kidney)
• Cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy Viral infections for example in the case of HIV or AIDS Aplastic anemia
  

When the immune system is weak, the body will find it difficult to protect itself from certain food bacteria and will require a 'clean' diet to prevent infections. This diet helps to reduce risk of infection that may be caused by contaminated food or drinks.

Neutropenic Diet: Do's & Don'ts

The rule-of-thumb is to have cooked foods and avoid all raw food items. This is because heat during cooking makes sure that all microorganisms in the food are destroyed. It is advisable to practice safe food handling to ensure food is hygienic to minimize exposure to bacterial and food contamination. Here are some tips on safe food handling:

• Always clean hands, food utensils and equipment with warm soapy water before eating
• Wash raw materials thoroughly before cooking Choose vegetables that are fresh and not damaged
• Use separate chopping boards for meat and vegetables to prevent cross contamination and use plastic chopping boards as they can be more easily cleaned
• Clean mouth of canned or bottled foods before opening
• Ensure that canned foods are properly packaged and within expiry date before purchasing
• Keep hot foods hot (above 63°C) and cold foods cold (below 5°C) Cook food thoroughly until well done, especially meat and eggs
• Thaw frozen foods in the microwave or in the chiller. Never thaw at room temperature
• Discard all leftover food if not consumed within 4 hours after cooking
• For easily perishable foods (e.g. custard, pudding, egg, and food items made with cream, discard within 1 hour after cooking if not consumed)
• Order a la carte food items and avoid pre-prepared foods which may be left cold for a period of time such as buffet, fast food, salad or sandwiches on the shelf