Skip These Dining Options on Your Next Vacation
Statistically speaking, food-borne illnesses are some of the most common disruptors of international travel plans. To stay safe, these are the most common foods to avoid eating when traveling in new countries.
1. Any Food in Touristy Areas
Regardless of food standards, most dishes you’ll find in tourist hot spots won’t be particularly good. Even worse, they’ll be overpriced. Buying meals or drinks in touristy areas and anywhere you don’t see a decent population of locals may backfire, for your health and the health of your wallet!
2. Tap or Unfiltered Water
Depending on where your travel plans take you, it may be smart to stick to bottled beverages, especially water. Certain countries or regions have poor or unfiltered tap water, leaving you vulnerable to water-borne illnesses. While saving funds by refilling your own bottle is wise, be sure to read up on the water quality found in the specific places you plan on visiting.
3. Raw Fish or Meat
It’s common to see warnings about consuming raw or partially cooked meat and fish in the United States, which is why it should be obvious this rule still applies to locations abroad. There may be some international dishes you’re excited to try that feature raw protein, but weigh the pros and cons before committing to food prepared like this.
4. New-To-You Dishes
Trying something new is a must while abroad, but how adventurous do you think you can be when it comes to food? If you want to eat frog legs or blood sausage for the first time, you should try it in a country that specializes in these dishes. However, keep in mind you never know how your body might react.
5. Ice or Foods Kept On Ice
Just as tap water can be dangerous to consume in certain international locations, ice should be treated the same way. Avoid drinks with ice whenever possible, and consider rinsing, peeling or otherwise washing any food resting on ice. It’s from the same potentially contaminated water source, after all.
6. Certain Dairy Products and Cheeses
Individuals who are pregnant and anyone sensitive to unpasteurized dairy should be careful when consuming certain cheeses or dairy products while abroad. Soft cheeses in particular can be more susceptible to food-borne bacteria, and dairy standards vary drastically from country to country.
7. Hotel Foods (Including Buffets and Room Service)
Buffets while abroad (and in most places, let’s be honest) should be avoided, as safe food temperature control can be difficult in buffet settings. Likewise, room service from your hotel may not be worth the price. Most of these dishes are lackluster or poorly prepared. They'll also likely taste much better for a lot less at the cafe down the street from your hotel.
8. Street Vendors With No Locals Around
Street food is best eaten in locations full of locals. While avoiding street food entirely will leave you with some FOMO (some of the best international food comes from random carts or markets!), be sure to select with a careful eye and stomach.
9. Out of Season Cuisine
Seasonality is something to prioritize when eating abroad, as most countries prepare dishes based on what’s fresh and currently available. While you’ll never truly know how a restaurant chooses to prepare its dishes, opting for seasonally relevant cuisine is a safe bet. Choosing something that’s out of season means there’s a much higher chance it’s been previously frozen or otherwise mishandled.
10. Unpeeled Fruits and Uncooked Veggies
Fresh lettuce and unpeeled fruits are some food items responsible for the majority of food poisoning around the world. You can eat uncooked vegetables and fruits, but use caution when doing so. Peel fruits whenever possible and opt for cooked veggies unless you trust the restaurant you’re dining at.
Tips for Staying Healthy While Traveling Abroad
Besides avoiding all of the foods previously listed, here are some additional tips for staying healthy and well while overseas:
- Stay hydrated. Even if you can’t drink the tap water, be sure to stay stocked up on bottled water while traveling. Pack some electrolyte drink powder or other hydrating options, especially when consuming alcohol.
- Bring medication. You may not always need anti-nausea medication at home, but you might abroad. Pack options that are known to help with food poisoning and its symptoms.
- Know what to do in an emergency. If food poisoning strikes, make sure you know where your local hospital is, how to get to it and your insurance information. It’s always better to be safe than sorry, especially in a new destination!
Ready to plan your next trip? Check out these tips on how to book cheap flights.