Is it safe to consume pizza or cheesy foods when having a fever?

Eating Pizza or Cheesy Food During Fever

Hard cheeses, processed cheeses, cream cheese, cottage cheese, and yogurt are safe to eat during fever, but soft cheeses should be avoided if you are immunocompromised. 1

Safety of Cheese Consumption During Fever

When you have a fever, your dietary choices should focus on food safety and avoiding potential pathogens that could worsen your condition:

• Hard cheeses, processed cheeses, cream cheese (including slices and spreads), cottage cheese, and yogurt are generally safe to consume during fever 1
• Soft cheeses (like feta, Brie, Camembert, blue-veined, and Mexican-style cheese such as queso fresco) should be avoided, particularly if you are immunocompromised, as they carry a higher risk of listeriosis 1

Pizza Considerations During Fever

Pizza can be consumed safely during fever if certain precautions are taken:

• Ensure the pizza is thoroughly cooked and served hot (steaming) 1
• Cheese on pizza is typically processed or hard cheese that has been heated to high temperatures, making it safe for consumption 1
• Avoid pizzas with undercooked meats or raw ingredients 1

Special Considerations for Immunocompromised Individuals

If you are severely immunocompromised (such as HIV-infected individuals with low CD4 counts), additional precautions are recommended:

• Avoid all soft cheeses completely 1
• Ensure all dairy products are made from pasteurized milk 1
• Heat leftover pizza until steaming hot before eating 1

General Food Safety During Illness

When you have a fever, regardless of the food you're consuming:

• Ensure all foods are properly cooked to appropriate internal temperatures 1
• Avoid cross-contamination between raw and cooked foods 1
• Wash hands thoroughly before eating and after handling raw foods 1
• Ensure all dairy products are pasteurized 1

Nutritional Considerations During Fever

While food safety is paramount, nutritional aspects are also important during fever:

• Maintain adequate hydration alongside food consumption 2, 3
• Easily digestible foods may be better tolerated during fever 4, 5
• There is no evidence suggesting that cheese or pizza specifically worsens fever symptoms 3, 4

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Don't consume unpasteurized dairy products during fever, as they increase infection risk 1
• Avoid eating foods from delicatessen counters unless reheated until steaming 1
• Don't assume that all cheese products carry the same risk - hard and processed cheeses are generally safer than soft varieties 1