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Food & Water Precautions

Travellers may find themselves exposed to the organisms that can cause travellers' diarrhoea. These are spread through the faecal/oral route.

In areas where it is difficult to maintain good hygiene and sanitation, travellers are advised to take precautions with food and water. This depends upon effective purification of drinking water and ensuring that food is uncontaminated or cooked thoroughly.

 

General Rules

  • Personal hygiene when eating and drinking is very important. Where possible, wash hands prior to handling food, eating and always after using the toilet. Handwashing facilities may be poor or not available when travelling, therefore it is advisable to carry sanitising gel or hand wipes at all times.

  • Ensure that clean dishes, cups and utensils are used; use alcohol wipes to clean them if necessary.

  • If using street vendors, where possible, choose food that is freshly cooked to a high temperature and served immediately while still hot.

 

Food Precautions

  • Cheese and ice cream are often made from unpasteurised milk and when in doubt, these should only be bought from larger, well established retailers where quality can usually be assured.

  • Meat should be freshly prepared, thoroughly cooked and eaten hot whenever possible.

  • Avoid leftovers or food that may have been exposed to the air for any length of time.

  • Fish and shellfish can be hazardous at certain times of the year, even if well cooked. Take local advice about seafood but when in doubt it is best to avoid.

  • Vegetables should ideally be eaten when thoroughly cooked.

  • Green salads should be avoided as these are easily contaminated by soil or flies and are difficult to clean.

  • Fruit (including tomatoes) should be peeled as the skin can be contaminated by flies and insects.

 

Water and Liquid Precautions

  • Water should only be drunk when you are sure of its purity.

  • Do not drink unsafe water without boiling, chemical purification or using a reliable filter.

  • This applies to water used for making ice cubes and cleaning the teeth.

  • Bottled water is usually safe, as are hot tea and coffee, beer and wine.

  • Milk should be boiled unless you are sure that it has been pasteurised.

 

Reference and more information from http://www.nathnac.org/travel/misc/travellers_food.htm

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