Foods to avoid after organ transplant

Transplant recipients must adhere to a strict diet after surgery to prevent food poisoning. Because they are taking immunosuppressants to prevent rejection of the new organ, transplant recipients are susceptible to infections, and food poisoning can make patients seriously ill.

Food Safety for Transplant Patients

Transplant diets are low microbial diets with an emphasis on food safety. Special dietary interventions may be required to balance medication side effects such as elevated potassium and blood sugar levels.

Diet after transplant

Transplant dietitians at the University of Chicago Medicine teach patients about new eating habits and changes they need to incorporate into their daily lives.

“We do transplants so that the person can eat, go out, and enjoy life,” says Mary Ellen Kolodier, a registered dietitian at the University of Chicago Medicine. “All they have to do is think about what to eat and what to order. It's extra work, but given what patients have been through, they're happy to go through the surgery to stay healthy.”

Foods to avoid after transplant surgery

• Pomegranate and grapefruit (including juice)
• alcohol
• Raw Food
• Leftovers from 4 days ago

Below, our experts and USDA recommended diet for transplant patients