FOOD & WATER SAFETY

Contaminated water poses frequent risks for the Traveler. In many parts of the world the tap water is not safe. The same water is used to irrigate crops and wash fruits and vegetables. Residual drops of water on these foods is a cause of many illnesses in travelers.

Diseases such as Travelers Diarrhea, Typhoid Fever, Hepatitis A and others are spread in this manner.

Abiding by the following three rules will hold you in good stead.

1. COOK IT the heat from cooking kills the germs that cause the diseases
2. BOIL IT/ BOTTLE IT water and drinks should be bottled or boiled within the past 24 hours.
3. PEEL IT you should aim to peel fruits and vegetables yourself and not leave it up to the restaurant or resort to do so.

Take care that restaurants or street vendors do not contaminate food that has been cooked by adding items that are not cooked to it.

Examples of this would be the addition of fresh herbs atop soups and other foods, or the addition of a salsa or relish on top of cooked meats.

Also exercise care that plates and glasses are dry before any food is put on them.

In many 4-5 star resorts in the Caribbean and Mexico the ice cubes are safe. This is not true for many other parts of the world.

Freshly squeezed juices can also be hazardous in many areas of the world.

Remember to use bottled water for brushing teeth and rinsing toothbrush.

For those travelers who are really going off the beaten path, you can visit us for more detailed advice on how to obtain drinkable water with the use of filters and purifying agents.