hepatitis c from food

[rajeev1955]

HELLO DOCTOR,

I HAVE READ THAT HEPATITIS C IS NOT SPREAD FROM SHARING FOOD.
BUT IS IT POSSIBLE IF THE FOOD IS CONTAMINATED WITH HEPATITIS POSITIVE BLOOD.
THIS QUESTION POPED BECAUSE THE PERSON WHO COOKS FOOD FOR MY ORGANISATION HAS HEPATITIS C AND I SAW HIM CUTTING HIS FINGER WITH A KNIFE WHILE CUTTING SALAD YEASTERDAY

1) IF I EAT RAW SALAD (NOT COOKED VEGETABLES) CONTAMINATED WITH HEPATITIS C BLOOD ON IT CAN I GET INFECTED WITH HEPATITIS C VIRUS.

2) IS IT POSSIBLE TO GET TRANSMITTED IF HEPATITIS C POSITIVE BLOOD GOES INTO MY MOUTH OR DIGESTIVE SYSTEM.

3)IF THERE ARE CUTS AND SORES IN MY MOUTH DOES IT INCREASE MY RISK

REGARDS
RAJ

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Again, there should be no risk from him preparing your food.  EWH

[Edward W Hook, MD]

What a silly question.  In science we can never say never. There is no evidence that hepatitis C has ever been spread through ingestion.  Logically therefore, this is not something you should waste your time worrying about.  

This will end this thread.  Further anxiety driven, repetitive questions will be deleted without comment. EWH

[rajeev1955]

Dear doctor,
There should be no risk or there is no risk?
Please make it clear
Regards
Raj

[rajeev1955]

dear doctor,
THANKS FOR YOUR REPLY
ACTUALLY THE GUY WHO PREPARED FOOD IS INFECTED BY HEPATITIS C I AM SURE.
HOPE THIS DOESNT POSE A RISK???
PLEASE REPLY

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to the Forum. There is no evidence that hepatitis C is spread be ingestion of the virus. Hepatitis A is a food borne illness which can be acquired through eating contaminated material but hepatitis C is quite a different virus. The virus is inactivated in the gastrointestinal tract and ingestion of contaminated material, even blood, does not lead to infection.  The enzymes and antibodies present in the mouth, as well as stomach acid are quite harsh and kill most micro organisms which they encounter.  This is true even if you have sores or cuts present in your mouth.

There is no reason to worry that ingestion of food prepared by someone who has hepatitis C (you do not know that this person has hepatitis C) will infect you.  No reason for concern or for testing.  EWH