The FastDay Forum

I'm writing a post for my blog about food safety when abroad - has anyone got any tips on how to avoid food poisoning when abroad? Also if you have any horror stories you don't mind me anonymously sharing, then that would be great, too.

Not sure if this is of any help but I have three tips:
1. If you buy food from street vendors, try to see if they have a permanent connection to electricity or a generator. If not, their fridge will be turned off when they are closed and its contents will thaw and re-freeze.
2. Even if you are somewhere where the water is drinkable, don't drink water from hotel bathroom taps. Many times the water comes from tanks.
3. Ask the locals where to eat. Especially in small places, they will know who's the dirty and who's the clean.

I don't have a horror story of my own but my mum had the worse food poisoning by drinking water from the bathroom tap of her hotel room in London.

Ooh thanks, I'd never have thought to see about generators etc. Sorry about your mum, that's just horrid.

Some years ago I was in India for a work conference at our Indian subsidiary. One evening we attended a dinner held in our honour in the gardens of the CEO's country club. It was a beautiful venue but my heart sank when I saw all the food being kept warm in large uncovered dishes. It tasted wonderful but I was dreadfully ill that night and all the next day. I would therefore advise avoiding 'hot' open air buffets when travelling!

Depending on where in the world you are but, if your drink arrives with ice cubes in it, THROW THEM AWAY! They will likely have been made from tap water and in the far east/India etc, this is not a good idea.

Ballerina x

Good point, Ballerina!

Windsinger, what is wrong with hot open buffets???

Here is the post, if anyone of you are interested. Thank you so much for your input http://imcountingufoz.com/blog/avoiding ... liday-3318

Nice! Thanks for sharing!

I returned from Egypt with Dysentary that I'm sure was caused by eating a tomato in a picnic lunch, so never eat anything that is raw unless you can peel it. Always drink bottled mineral water & clean teeth with it & make sure any bottles of water given to you in restaurants are unopened. Never have ice cubes & be careful with picnic food & buffets. Also carry & use hand wipes because loo facilities can be somewhat lacking abroad with poor hand washing facilities. Antibacterial gel is also a necessary thing to carry with you.

Not quite what you're looking for re prevention of food poisoning, but I tip I once got was don't bother taking any UK imodium or similar with you as it won't touch anything that you get abroad. Our first visit to Egypt (when we were given this tip) proved true, the UK remedies didn't touch my very upset stomach. The next 2 trips I simply went to hotel receptions and they dished out sachets which cured my problems almost instantly (certainly within a few hours) both times. So personally I'd always get local remedies in future when overseas. Egypt - I LOVE that place, think I was an Egyptian in a previous life, which would explain my love of cats and the Pyramids

All the above (any many, some more scary reasons) is why I don't have any urge to go anywhere but the UK and Greece. I do want to go to Paris once in order to shop from Galleries Lafayette but that is all.
Call me crazy but worrying if what I eat is actually eating me, is not part of my ideal holiday!