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Can Hepatitis Be Transmitted Via Food Contaminated With Blood?

Posted on Tue, 24 Oct 2017

Question: Hi, I'm worried today because I opened a package of food with scissors that im afraid someome may have cut themselves with previously. My fear is that some microscopic amount of blood could have gotten on my food. I did read that hepatitis c is not spread through food but in this case im worried about food that may have touched something contaminated with blood. I'm just concerned because the scissors made contact with the food or at least made contact with the plastic the beef stick had to come out of. Can you help me rationalize this fear?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Monika Dede (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Please don't worry! There is no risk for HIV, hep B and C .

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you writing in healthcare magic.

In this situation, even if the food may have touched something contaminated with blood, you shouldn't worry because there is no risk to get HIV, and Hep B or C.
You should know that HIV and hep B and C cannot be spread through food or water. Furthermore, hep C is mainly transmitted by blood to blood exposure and ingesting the virus (infected blood) would not lead to infection.

I hope my answer helps you.
Regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Monika Dede (18 hours later)

Hi,

Thank you for the reassurance. I'm working hard with a therapist to understand where my health phobias stem from and am doing my best to let go of my fear of theoretical risk. I thought I was at risk of an STD years ago and did way too much reading online. Even though this is psychological, it does help me to understand the rational reasons that I should not be worried.

For me to understand fully, I would have to have actively bleeding sores in my mouth for such a risk to even be possible? I often have abrasions from food/spices in my mouth, cracks in my lips, but this would be different from an open sore? I guess I'm asking if I had an open sore in my mouth that had potential to be infected by contaminated food it would be obvious to me? I would obviously have blood in my mouth?

Thank you for the opportunity to follow up and for understanding that I have some obvious issue with blood phobia.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Monika Dede (5 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Please don't worry! There is no risk for HIV .

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you writing back.

Please don't worry, even if you have an open bleeding sores in your mouth there is no risk to get HIV infection from eating contaminated with blood because HIV cannot live outside the body just a few seconds.
You should know that HIV needs direct human-to-human contact to be transmitted and dies immediately when it is exposed to air.

I hope my answer helps you.
Regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Monika Dede (14 hours later)

I was asking more specifically about hepatitis and what is considered an “open sore” since hep c does live outside the body.

Thank you!

Answered by Dr. Dr. Monika Dede (29 hours later)

Brief Answer:
The risk of transmission of hep C does exist.

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I am sorry for my late response.

As for the Hep C, you should know that the risk of transmission exists when the infected blood comes in contact with your blood only if you have an open bleeding cut (open sore) on your mouth.

I hope my answer helps you.
Regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Monika Dede (39 minutes later)

Right, and an open sore would be obvious to me, correct? In other words, I would notice blood in my mouth? I'm trying to determine if I should be concerend about cracks in my lips, abrasions from chewing, brushing teethe, or even blisters on my lips from spicy food. I'm really just trying to distinguish these things apart from an open sore. Are those things considered an open sore?

Thanks again for answering my questions. I won't have any more follow ups after your response. Just wanted to say thank you.
XXXXXXX

Answered by Dr. Dr. Monika Dede (20 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Please don't worry!

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
You are welcome.

Usually, these kind of things are not considered an open bleeding sore.
So, please don't worry.

I hope my answer helps you.
Regards.

Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad