Question: If I have HIV can I eat eggs, meat, poultry, and fish?
Answer: Yes. Eggs, meat, poultry (such as chicken or turkey), and fish can make you sick only if they are raw, undercooked, prepared incorrectly, or spoiled. To avoid illness:
- Cook all meat and poultry until they are no longer pink in the middle. If you use a meat thermometer, the temperature inside the meat or poultry should be over 165° F. Fish should be cooked until it is flaky, not rubbery.
- After handling raw meat, poultry, and fish, wash your hands well with soap and water before you touch any other food.
- Thoroughly wash cutting boards, cooking utensils, and countertops with soap and hot water after they have had contact with raw meat, poultry, or fish.
- Do not let uncooked meat, poultry, or fish or their juices touch other food or each other.
- Do not let meat, poultry, or fish sit at room temperature for more than a few minutes. Keep them in the refrigerator until you are ready to cook.
- Eat or drink only pasteurized milk or dairy products.
- Cook eggs until the yolk and white are solid, not runny.
- Do not eat foods that may contain raw eggs, such as hollandaise sauce, cookie dough, homemade mayonnaise, and Caesar salad dressing. If you prepare these foods at home, use pasteurized eggs instead of eggs in the shell. You can find pasteurized eggs in the dairy case at your supermarket.
