Safety Eating Tips When Traveling Abroad

When traveling to foreign countries people must be careful about what and where they eat. Many third world countries, such as in South America, Africa, and Asia, lack food safety standards and regulations regarding restaurant and food preparation. Even water and sewer treatment lack safety standards and regulations regarding sanitation. As a result tourist often contract hepatitis, diarrhea, parasites, bacteria infections, and / or viruses. However, here are some simple and easy eating tips for travelers and tourist when going abroad.

Food To Avoid Eating
Seafood
In many developing countries such as in Asia and Africa, streams, rivers, and coastal ocean waters are dirty and have a dark yellow or green color. This is caused by toxin and chemical contamination. As a result much of the seafood is polluted and unfit to eat. The government in these countries fail to regulate seafood, and allow contaminated seafood to be consumed.

Meat and Poultry
The meat and poultry in developing countries often go unrefrigerated after slaughtering. As with seafood, governments of these countries fail to regulate the handling and sale of meat and poultry. As a result meat and poultry is often tainted with bacteria, such as ecolii, and parasites. So avoid eating meat and poultry when abroad.

Dairy Products
Pasteurization milk, which is the base of all dairy produces kills bacteria in the milk which can cause serious health problems. However, in developing countries the pasteurization of dairy products in unheard of. So avoid eating yogurt, milk, butter, cheese and any other dairy products. If you do consume milk first boil it in a pot until skin forms on the service. Boiling can kill the bacteria in the milk.

Eggs
All eggs regardless of what country they are in contain bacteria, such as salmonella. To prepare eggs for eating, have them hard boiled. If you are a scrambled scrabbled egg eater, be sure the eggs are cooked well done. Thorough cooking kills all germs and bacteria.

Water
Water purifying is another problem in developing countries. Often drinking water is contaminated with waste water. So instead of drinking water directly for the faucet, first boil the water. Boiling water can kill bacteria and parasites. Store your boiled water in water bottles. When going out sight seeing take your water bottle of boiled water with you. When eating at restaurants ask to be served boiled water.

Fruits And Vegetables
In the street markets of foreign countries there are so many different kinds of fruits of which we have never seen. When walking through street markets, tourists are often tempted to buy the fruits and eat them immediately. However instead of eating fruit right when buying it first wash it with clean water. Do not buy and eat pre-cut fruit.
In the case of vegetables, only eat cooked vegetables. Avoid salads.

Restaurants
Avoid street vendors, buffets, and restaurants that appears unclean. Check travel agencies and travel guide literature for recommended restaurants listings. The restaurants in these listings have been visited and rated by travel experts.

Safe Food To Eat When Abroad
When in foreign countries there are foods that you can by that will be safe. The list of them include the following:

Canned processed food
Bottled water, soda, and juice that has been pasteurized
Well-cooked food served hot
Bread and other baked goods
Crackers

When traveling abroad take along purification tablets to use in tap water. Soda is a good alternative to water because its high acidic level makes it hard for bacteria to survive.

It is important to be careful about what you eat when traveling abroad. By eating with caution you will insure yourself and your family a safe and pleasant foreign experience.