Which dairy product is recommended for neutropenic patients?

• A. Unpasteurized milk
• B. Pasteurized milk
• C. Raw eggs
• D. Unpasteurized cheese

Answer: (B)

The main idea is that neutropenic patients have very limited ability to fight infections, so foods that could harbor bacteria are treated to kill pathogens. Pasteurization heats dairy enough to destroy common bacteria that can cause illness, making pasteurized milk the safer choice. Unpasteurized dairy can contain harmful organisms like Listeria, Salmonella, or E. coli, which pose a higher infection risk for someone with a weakened immune system. Raw eggs also carry a risk of Salmonella, and unpasteurized cheese can be risky as well, especially soft varieties. So, pasteurized milk is the recommended dairy product for neutropenic patients.