Food and drink, particularly in developing countries, can sometimes harbour germs and serious diseases such as cholera, typhoid and hepatitis A. More commonly, though, travellers can suffer from bouts of food poisoning, with symptoms including vomiting and diarrhoea, after ingesting contaminated food or drink.

To help travellers avoid this and have more time to enjoy their long-awaited holiday, Grant Winter, our compliance officer here at Good to Go Insurance, shares top tips for staying healthy while eating and drinking abroad:

1. Water safety is key¶

Grant advises: “Drinking bottled water is always recommended when abroad, even if the internet is telling you tap water is safe to drink wherever you’re going. Ensure the lid of the bottle is well sealed before you drink it. If you can’t get access to bottled water for whatever reason, only drink tap water that has been boiled, or use chlorine tablets or iodine to sterilise the water. Always be sure to avoid prolonged exposure to iodine, though - this method isn’t best when doing it more than once or twice.”

2. All inclusive risks ¶

Grant comments: “When it comes to food, avoid eating cooked food that has been left uncovered for too long. Always aim to get to the all-inclusive buffet earlier in the serving rather than later to avoid being left with the food which has been outside for longer, and exposed to potential sources of bacteria.

“It’s also better to avoid food that has flies buzzing around it, and only eat raw fruit and vegetables that you have peeled yourself to reduce the risk of contamination.”

3. Don’t ask for ice¶

Grant explains: “Don’t forget about the risk of ice cubes in your drinks. In many cases, these are probably made from untreated tap water (however, some large resorts do use bottled water, so it’s always worth checking), which can cause you to get sick.”

4. Be mindful of food poisoning dangers¶

Grant shares: “Regardless of where you’re eating, you should always check to see if the food is piping hot throughout before eating, but when abroad, you should be extra vigilant of this. For example, eating tropical fish that haven’t been cooked properly can lead to ciguatera fish poisoning, and unpasteurised dairy such as ice cream from a street vendor could harbour salmonella, E. coli, Listeria, or Campylobacter, leading to food poisoning.”

5. Always remember personal hygiene¶

Grant says: “Whilst it may sound obvious, personal hygiene should be a number 1 priority abroad to help avoid food poisoning and contamination. Always wash your hands after the toilet and before eating or preparing food, and make sure you take an alcohol-based hand gel to use when you’re out and about before eating any food.”

Travelling with a pre-existing medical condition? Get a quote with Good to Go travel insurance today.