How To Avoid Food Poisoning {On Holidays}
Post Last Modified – August 31, 2022
Tips To Help Prevent Food Poisoning
Contracting food poisoning while away on vacation can be simply devastating, but there are a few ways to – Avoid Food Poisoning on Holidays.
I am sure we have all had a family member, friend or even ourselves, that became ill at some point while traveling. This especially so, for those who travel to international foreign destinations.
For many, it may have completely {ruined or spoiled} a few or even many, very precious days of their long awaited-vacation.
I know I’ve certainly had friends become ill for a number of days on vacation. More often then not, it’s mostly due to what they had {eaten or drank}, just before.
Today, with the more common outbreaks of the Norwalk virus on Cruise Ships and other select places, companies are now taking further steps to ensure better sanitary conditions.
More attention with food preparation, presentation and serving in restaurants and particularly buffets.
As a matter of fact and I’m sure we’re all aware, that many buffets at resorts and restaurants still remain closed due to the Covid outbreak.
Check out this short, but very informative video outlining what {Food Poisoning}, really is.
What Exactly Is Food Poisoning – YouTube Video
Increased Measures To Avoid Food Poisoning
In recent years, at all entrances to resort all inclusive food outlets and particularly on cruise ships, it is not uncommon to see a 🧍 staff member standing alongside the hand sanitizer station, or even giving everyone entering a 🧴 squirt!
An excellent way to encourage or make sure all passengers {clean their hands}, before entering. This is wonderful and if everyone obliges and does their part, the outbreak of bacterial viruses can be greatly reduced.
Remember to 🧼 wash your hands and or sanitize often!
As well, you may also begin to notice more and more cruise ships, all inclusive resort hotels and other establishments offering buffet choices, begin eliminating the {self-serve} aspect of food selection.
Staff will be more and more involved in serving customers their food choices, in order to prevent the unsanitary handling and placing of food utensils.
If you are required to use public serving 🥄 utensils, be cautious of where they are placed and how people are handling them.
Do not touch your food with bare hands after touching these utensils, as they are contaminated with germs and bacteria from other users!
Avoid Food Poisoning By Being Careful What You Eat
Food can be contaminated quite easily if improperly stored or refrigerated, prepared and how the it is typically served.
Bacterial viruses can be easily contracted as a result of this, resulting in sickness ranging from; minor stomach and bowel disturbances, to very severe symptoms requiring bed rest and or hospitalization.
Here are some of the more common foods where people do contract food poisoning, particularly when away on vacation.
Raw Seafood And Shellfish
Photo by Isabella Mendes from Pexels
As tempting as raw seafood is, especially for those that love sushi, unless you are certain that the fish has been stored and prepared to the highest of standards, avoid eating this food.
This goes for 🦐 shellfish as well!
Those lovely shrimp and prawns set out and displayed in buffets, can be filled with bacteria if not; stored, cooked and displayed properly.
Many people become very ill as result of eating 🦐 shellfish while away.
I have a very close friend, while staying in a ⭐ 5 Star all-inclusive resort, become so ill, that he was bed ridden for 3 days, and a doctor had to be called to the hotel.
He had consumed a number of those beautiful 🦐 prawns you see at the buffet. Within hours of eating them that night, he became very 🤒 ill!
The doctor concluded that the shellfish he consumed was not properly stored, and had become contaminated.
Here is a list of the more common types of food, that people may contract food poisoning from while away on vacation:
Poorly cleaned Leafy Greens;
Raw or Poorly Cooked Eggs;
Shellfish;
Potato Salad;
Raw Sprouts;
Poorly Cooked Meat;
Unpackaged Mayonnaise.
Avoid Food Poisoning Helpful Tip
A good rule of thumb to follow and I am sure many of you have heard this before;
“If You Cannot Boil It, Peel It or Cook It… Leave It!”
A Little Prevention Goes a Long Way
I know when I was younger and traveling, I didn’t care what I ate or drank and knock on wood, I was extremely lucky!
Other than the usual small and short lasting bouts of {diarrhea} contracted time to time. This, from consuming non-purified water and the introduction to unfamiliar foods.
We didn’t have the luxury of bottled purified water years ago as is the case most anywhere today. We had to rely on regular tap water.
Things have changed dramatically today, reducing the chances of becoming ill – tenfold!
Today, it’s so much easier to prevent illness when your are traveling and especially to foreign destinations.
The first and foremost thing to do, is by making smart decisions on what we {eat and drink}.
Try to resist the urge to eat the items listed above and watch how others are handling the serving utensils at the buffet tables.
Remember to always keep your hands away from your eyes and mouth at all times. Use hand sanitizer as much as you can, even if you are not eating and just walking by the dispenser.
On our all-inclusive vacation at the beautiful Oasis Tulum Hotel in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, we couldn’t help but notice the attention given to; cleanliness, sanitation and food preparation in the buffet.
Food was well cooked, handled carefully and the salads were always; fresh and clean each day!
🧴 Hand sanitizer was present at the entrance to the buffet, the same as you see on Cruise ships. As well, staff were always on guard at food stations, making sure serving utensils were clean and used in a proper manner.
We were also provided each day with 2 complimentary bottles of water in our room. Fresh purified water and ice were always available at the hotel bars as well.
A big change from years past and this was not a ⭐ 5 star resort!
I’ve listed just a few things to consider the next time you and your family are away on vacation to help prevent that dreaded – Food Born Illness!
Food Poisoning Treatment
With relatively mild food poisoning symptoms, you should return to normal in 2 to 3 days.
Be sure to replace fluids lost through vomiting and/or diarrhea, as a result of the illness.
Try to return to a normal diet as quickly as possible to aid in recovery.
If symptoms persist, consult a doctor as soon as possible.
To learn more about the {Symptoms of Food Poisoning} types and reactions, I’ve listed a very helpful website below for your convenience.
🥪 Symptoms of Food Poisoning
Safe and Healthy Travels!
Did You Know …
“Food Poisoning Symptoms Often Include Nausea, Vomiting And Diarrhea Can Begin Within Hours Of Eating Contaminated Food.”
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🥗 Make smart decisions on what you {Eat & Drink} while traveling.
