Post-Transplant diet

Food hygiene advice post-transplant

After your kidney transplant you will have to take immunosuppressive medication, for example, tacrolimus, cyclosporin, mycophenolate mofetil or azathioprine. These reduce the activity of your immune system to help prevent your new kidney from being rejected. Your immune system protects your body by fighting infections. When the level of your immune function is reduced, you will be more likely to catch infections. There is a risk of catching a food borne infection such as Listeria or Salmonella which may or may not present with symptoms. If you follow the advice below, you will reduce the risk of getting a food borne infection.

Some guidelines to help reduce your risk of infection from food and drinks:

Shopping

• Only eat food that is still within its use-by or best-before date.
• Purchase meat and fish from clean counters.
• Once purchased, put fresh foods into the fridge or freezer as soon as possible.

Preparation

• Keep pets out of the kitchen
• Wash hands and protect cuts and wounds before handling food
• Wash and dry utensils, (for example knives) and work surfaces (for example chopping boards) between preparation of raw and cooked food to avoid crosscontamination
• Wash all fruit and vegetables before preparation

Cooking

• Thaw meat, fish and poultry in the fridge, not at room temperature
• Cook meat, fish and poultry thoroughly
• When reheating food, ensure it is piping hot
• Never reheat food more than once
• When using a microwave, follow the cooking and standing times and know the power rating

Storage

• Regularly check the fridge/freezer temperatures. Ensure the fridge is 5^oc or lower and freezer -18^oc or lower
• Never refreeze thawed food
• Cover all foods in the fridge
• Store raw and cooked foods separately. Keep cooked food above raw in the fridg

Eating out and going abroad

• When eating out or having a takeaway, ensure food is fresh and well cooked.
• Take extra care when abroad as food hygiene standards may be poorer. Try to use only reputable restaurants/eateries, avoid food sold on streets or markets.
• We recommend you avoid salad bars, carveries, deli-counters and buffets

For more advice on holiday travel see here