Safe Food While Traveling

Keep track of time

It's easy to lose track of time on a long trip. Without refrigeration, foods like yogurt, chicken sandwiches, or hummus are ideal breeding grounds for bacteria. These foods should be eaten within four hours or thrown out.

Separate raw foods from cooked foods

If you're bringing raw meat with you to cook at a ski lodge or guesthouse, wrap it and keep it separate from cooked food. When traveling by car, place the meat on ice and monitor how long it stays at room temperature (no more than 4 hours!).

Wipe down the folding table

In a 2015 study published in TravelMath, a microbiologist collected 26 samples from five airports and four flights. Tray trays were found to be the dirtiest place on a plane. Wipe tray trays with disinfectant wipes and never touch food with your hands; always use utensils or a napkin to handle food.

Do not use drinking fountains at the airport.

Water is perhaps the only free amenity at airports. But when you touch a drinking fountain button, you're likely to pick up a large number of microorganisms. The aforementioned TravelMath study found these fountains to be among the dirtiest places in airports.

Check the temperature

It seems simple, but any food you plan to buy while traveling should be at the right temperature. A cold sandwich should be refrigerated before purchase, and hot soup should be piping hot. If the food is at room temperature, it's likely been sitting out for several hours and could potentially harbor harmful microorganisms.

Avoid sickly looking waiters

When ordering food at a fast food establishment or sitting at a table in a cafe, avoid waiters who are visibly ill—with a runny nose or a severe cough.

Research the information you need in advance

According to a 2015 World Health Organization report, approximately 1 in 10 people suffer from food poisoning each year. Before traveling abroad, check if there is a source of potable water at your destination. Unsafe water can be contaminated with parasites, amoebas, or viruses such as hepatitis. If clean water is not available, avoid anything prepared with tap water, including cocktails and ice, and do not brush your teeth with it. Use only bottled water and other bottled drinks, such as juice and soda.

Choose the safest option

When stopping for a snack on the road, avoid questionable-looking prepared foods. Packaged foods must meet strict food safety standards, so sometimes they're a better choice. Healthy packaged snacks include protein bars, granola bars, popcorn, and nuts.

Wash reusable bottles

You can save money by taking a reusable water bottle with you, but there are limitations to its use. The neck, which you touch, can harbor bacteria, so be sure to wash the bottle daily with warm, soapy water.

Take non-perishable foods

If you're unsure when your next meal will be, pack non-perishable foods. Good options include nuts, nut butters, granola bars, instant oatmeal or granola (just add hot water), canned or sealed tuna, whole-grain crackers, and dried fruit.



Votes: 3