How To Avoid Food - And Waterborne Diseases

However adventurous you are at sampling that delicious local
cuisine, you’ll always need to pay close attention to
everything you eat or drink while you’re away, especially in
areas of poor sanitation.

By all means, don’t let us put you off your dinner! All
we’re asking is that you try to be aware of all the the
potential risks of contaminated food before you tuck in. You could
be exposing yourself to some pretty scary things, even by something
as safe-looking as a couple of ice-cubes in your mid-afternoon
cocktail…

Travellers’ diarrhoea, E. coli, Shigella, Salmonella, Giardia, Entamoebahystolytica, Campylobacter Cryptosporidia, Cyclospora and even Cholera could all be lurking in your elevenses if you’re not careful!

Because of this, we’ve come up with a handy list of Dos
and Don’ts for safe food and liquid consumption while
you’re on holiday. We advise that while you’re staying
in areas where its tricky to ensure good levels of cleanliness, you
should always follow these precautions to make sure that you stay
guarded against common and some less than common infections,
too.

Dos and Don’ts

Do keep washing those hands! Personal hygiene is SO important,
especially when you’re eating or drinking. Always remember to
wash your hands before handling food, before mealtimes, and after
you use the loo. It’s a good idea to bring hand wipes or
sanitising gel in your bag just in case you can’t reach a
decent place to wash your hands while you’re on the
move.
Don’t drink or wash any fresh fruit or veg in water that you’re not sure about. All the water you drink or use to prepare food in should be purified or treated beforehand. Don’t even use ice cubes or clean your teeth in unsafe water! Bottled water is best, but if you don’t have access to this then boiling it, using a filter or a chemical purifier are the next best thing. See our page on water and liquid precautions for extra info.
Do drink bottled or sealed drinks! It’s fine to enjoy a
can of beer or share a bottle of wine at mealtimes, but don’t
trust anything without a seal or if the seal’s been visibly
broken.
Do enjoy a cuppa or two… We know you’ll be missing
a cup of that good old British brew so, rest assured, all hot teas,
coffees or drinks made with boiled water will be safe to
drink.
Do boil all milk or cream that you have unless you’re
certain it’s been pasteurised.
Do try to buy your dairy products from the bigger, more
established shops where you can be certain it’s of good
quality and has been pasteurised.
Don’t use any dirty cups, plates or cooking utensils at
mealtimes! Make sure they’re all clean, and if you’re
not sure about them then use alcohol wipes to be extra safe.
Do sample the local street food: it’s delicious! Funnily
enough, most of the time street food will be amongst the safest
you’ll find – but make sure you choose food that’s just
been cooked, looks fresh, and is served piping hot when you get
it.
Don’t buy meat unless you’re sure it’s been
freshly prepared. If you’re eating meat then it should be
properly cooked through and you must eat it hot wherever you
can!
Don’t risk those leftovers! As tempting as last
night’s curry might look, it’s not safe to risk eating
pre-cooked food that’s been left out in the air for too
long.
Do peel any fresh fruit you eat as its possible that the skins
will have been contaminated by nearby flies or bugs.
Do eat all your veg after its been well-cooked! There’s
no need to miss out on your 5-a-day but, sadly, fresh vegetables or
salad bits are easily contaminated in the soil or by flies, and
they can also be difficult to clean.
Don’t play Russian roulette with fish or shellfish on
holiday! These can be tricky foods at the best of times even if
cooked properly, so talk to some locals about what’s safe to
eat and if doesn’t seem OK, don’t eat it!

Well there you have it: our top list of Dos and Don’ts for safe
eating and drinking while you’re travelling abroad. Try to
stick to these as closely as possible, and remember: if in doubt,
steer clear!