1. < Transplants

Your best tips for raw food safety post transplant.

Posted by jolinda @jolinda, Aug 3, 2019

Does anyone have good guidelines for eating raw food post transplant. I am specifically interested if anyone remembers the things you were taught about raw fruits and veggies. As an example I was told it is ok to eat prewashed lettuce if you rewash it or that fruit with bumpy skin, like cantaloupe can't be washed well enough to avoid contaminating the fruit when cutting through it.

MODERATOR'S NOTE
The knowledge exchange shared in this discussion helped to create this article written for the Mayo Clinic app. Knowledge for patients by patients and beyond Mayo Clinic Connect.

– How to safely enjoy fruits and veggies after a transplant https://www.mayoclinic.org/CPT-20514171

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Transplants Support Group.

JK | @contentandwell | Oct 19, 2019
In reply to @nkdonahue "@contentandwell I have not used anything but cool water to wash berries, and I do so..." + (show)
@nkdonahue

@contentandwell I have not used anything but cool water to wash berries, and I do so just before eating them. Do you use the water and vinegar bath, then store the fruit to eat later? I would be very happy to prolong the freshness of pricey organic strawberries that we enjoy. Given that our daughter is just 24, I am relieved to hear that she may not have to change her diet as dramatically as I had anticipated. Do you have trouble making good choices at restaurants? Avoiding excessive salt seems like a challenge outside one's own kitchen. Thank you for your ideas.

Jump to this post

@nkdonahue First, I want to welcome you to Connect, I neglected to do that in my first post to you. There are many so of us who are post-transplant that I’m sure it will be very helpful for you. I wish I had known about it sooner than I did.

On to strawberries - it’s funny that they always said to wash them just before eating them. I do wash the whole package now in the white vinegar/water wash. I read that in an article about making them last longer, and it really does generally give me an extra couple of days. I see it as a win-win. The berries last longer and the spores that may be on them are killed. Just make sure you rinse them well. Of course I need to eat a berry to make sure they are. 😉. I do the same with blueberries but raspberries are too fragile to do that with them.

I favor a couple of restaurants that are happy to customize the food for dietary requirements. If I have to go elsewhere I generally ask the server what can be done with limited sodium. Most restaurants have something that can be prepared low-sodium Generally eliminate anything that has been marinated because many restaurants start the marinating process much earlier in the day. When I know neither of these options will work I try to not have any sodium other than that meal, on that day. Once in a while I can’t really do any of that so I do end up having more sodium than I would like to have. I pay for it the next day in fluid retention but I don’t think an occasional lapse is going to hurt overall - my opinion so check with your transplant department.

Fortunately for me the prohibited foods are not things that are too much of a sacrifice to exclude, although I do love grapefruit juice and there is always some in the fridge because my husband loves it.

As you go through this process you will probably have more questions - ask away, that’s what we are here for.
JK

REPLY
1 reply
nkdonahue | @nkdonahue | Oct 20, 2019
In reply to @contentandwell "@nkdonahue First, I want to welcome you to Connect, I neglected to do that in my..." + (show)
@contentandwell

@nkdonahue First, I want to welcome you to Connect, I neglected to do that in my first post to you. There are many so of us who are post-transplant that I’m sure it will be very helpful for you. I wish I had known about it sooner than I did.

On to strawberries - it’s funny that they always said to wash them just before eating them. I do wash the whole package now in the white vinegar/water wash. I read that in an article about making them last longer, and it really does generally give me an extra couple of days. I see it as a win-win. The berries last longer and the spores that may be on them are killed. Just make sure you rinse them well. Of course I need to eat a berry to make sure they are. 😉. I do the same with blueberries but raspberries are too fragile to do that with them.

I favor a couple of restaurants that are happy to customize the food for dietary requirements. If I have to go elsewhere I generally ask the server what can be done with limited sodium. Most restaurants have something that can be prepared low-sodium Generally eliminate anything that has been marinated because many restaurants start the marinating process much earlier in the day. When I know neither of these options will work I try to not have any sodium other than that meal, on that day. Once in a while I can’t really do any of that so I do end up having more sodium than I would like to have. I pay for it the next day in fluid retention but I don’t think an occasional lapse is going to hurt overall - my opinion so check with your transplant department.

Fortunately for me the prohibited foods are not things that are too much of a sacrifice to exclude, although I do love grapefruit juice and there is always some in the fridge because my husband loves it.

As you go through this process you will probably have more questions - ask away, that’s what we are here for.
JK

Jump to this post

@jk Thanks for the welcome as well as your tips. I appreciate your sharing them.

REPLY
hello1234 | @hello1234 | Jul 29, 2021

Hi all,
I am a transplant patient. How do you wash your fresh vegetables to assure they are clean? I am reading on the internet to bathe lettuce in vinegar and water, dip strawberries in baking soda/water, use a brush on cantaloupe, don't use soap just running water on a nectarine and tomato, etc. How do you wash your fresh fruit and vegetables for food safety? Many thanks!!

REPLY
3 replies
estrada53 | @estrada53 | Jul 29, 2021
In reply to @hello1234 "Hi all, I am a transplant patient. How do you wash your fresh vegetables to assure..." + (show)
@hello1234

Hi all,
I am a transplant patient. How do you wash your fresh vegetables to assure they are clean? I am reading on the internet to bathe lettuce in vinegar and water, dip strawberries in baking soda/water, use a brush on cantaloupe, don't use soap just running water on a nectarine and tomato, etc. How do you wash your fresh fruit and vegetables for food safety? Many thanks!!

Jump to this post

Hello. Congrats on your transplant. Being careful with food is important so your question is a good one! I used a combo of vinegar and water for several months post transplant, soaking everything for 10 minutes or so and then really rinsing well in order to get the vinegary smell off. If you are told not to eat grapefruit, don't buy one of the spray cleaners for veggies and fruits they offer in the health food stores as it has grapefruit/citrus juice in it. I use a vegetable scrub to clean off the peels of lemons, limes, apples, avocadoes, etc before I cut into them. I never heard about the strawberries and baking soda - I rinse them well and throw out any berry that looks a bit suspicious. Good luck with everything and take care!

REPLY
lizzy102 | @lizzy102 | Jul 30, 2021
In reply to @hello1234 "Hi all, I am a transplant patient. How do you wash your fresh vegetables to assure..." + (show)
@hello1234

Hi all,
I am a transplant patient. How do you wash your fresh vegetables to assure they are clean? I am reading on the internet to bathe lettuce in vinegar and water, dip strawberries in baking soda/water, use a brush on cantaloupe, don't use soap just running water on a nectarine and tomato, etc. How do you wash your fresh fruit and vegetables for food safety? Many thanks!!

Jump to this post

30+ years out and I still wash my veggies & fruits carefully. I either spritz with vinegar and water, let sit and rinse well or I use hot tap water to rinse after scrubbing.

REPLY
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Jul 30, 2021
In reply to @hello1234 "Hi all, I am a transplant patient. How do you wash your fresh vegetables to assure..." + (show)
@hello1234

Hi all,
I am a transplant patient. How do you wash your fresh vegetables to assure they are clean? I am reading on the internet to bathe lettuce in vinegar and water, dip strawberries in baking soda/water, use a brush on cantaloupe, don't use soap just running water on a nectarine and tomato, etc. How do you wash your fresh fruit and vegetables for food safety? Many thanks!!

Jump to this post

Great topic. You'll notice that I moved your message to this existing discussion about food safety and transplant patients. @hello1234, in addition to the comments you've already received, you may wish to scroll through past comments.

REPLY
1 reply
hello1234 | @hello1234 | Jul 31, 2021
In reply to @colleenyoung "Great topic. You'll notice that I moved your message to this existing discussion about food safety..." + (show)
@colleenyoung

Great topic. You'll notice that I moved your message to this existing discussion about food safety and transplant patients. @hello1234, in addition to the comments you've already received, you may wish to scroll through past comments.

Jump to this post

Thank you so much everyone!! All of your helpful comments and hints about washing your fruits and veggies are super valuable. I appreciate my Mayo Connect family!

REPLY
Mentor
Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor | @rosemarya | Aug 2, 2021
In reply to @linmarie "https://www.fsis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/..." + (show)

@linmarie, I tried the link, and it looks like the USD has redesigned their page. I found these sections that provide excellent food safety guidelines.

This has a section especially for transplant patients, however the entire brochure is an easy read, and I recommend any transplant recipient to look at the entire booklet.
Food Safety A Need-to-Know for Those at Risk
https://www.fsis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media_file/2021-04/at-risk-booklet.pdfFood Handling and Preparation

For Safe food handling
https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation

REPLY
1 reply
athenalee | @athenalee | Aug 2, 2021
In reply to @rosemarya "@linmarie, I tried the link, and it looks like the USD has redesigned their page. I..." + (show)
@rosemarya

@linmarie, I tried the link, and it looks like the USD has redesigned their page. I found these sections that provide excellent food safety guidelines.

This has a section especially for transplant patients, however the entire brochure is an easy read, and I recommend any transplant recipient to look at the entire booklet.
Food Safety A Need-to-Know for Those at Risk
https://www.fsis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media_file/2021-04/at-risk-booklet.pdfFood Handling and Preparation

For Safe food handling
https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation

Jump to this post

Handy booklet, thanks! I knew most of the foods to avoid, but didn’t know about sprouts and feta cheese…bummer. And, let me just say I haven’t had sushi in nearly two years and I seriously miss it!

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