How I try to avoid food poisoning when I travel ✈️
A few simple habits can lower your risk:
• Wash your hands before you eat. It sounds simple, but germs from stool can easily spread to your hands from bathroom surfaces, door handles, phones, and other frequently touched objects.
• Choose foods that are freshly cooked and served hot. This is especially important in airports, food courts, and buffets.
• Avoid foods that have been sitting out at room temperature, especially meat, seafood, dairy products, rice, and sauces.
One thing many people don’t know is that bismuth subsalicylate has been shown in studies to reduce the risk of travelers’ diarrhea and is included as an option in travel medicine guidelines for some travelers.
However, bismuth is not appropriate for everyone. It can interact with certain medications, including blood thinners, aspirin, and other medications, and may not be safe for people with certain medical conditions. Be sure to discuss it with your healthcare professional before taking it.
Even if you do everything right, food poisoning and travelers’ diarrhea can still happen. But practicing good hand hygiene, choosing freshly cooked foods, and following food safety recommendations can significantly lower your risk while traveling.
This is not medical advice. This post is a review of gastroenterology and travel medicine guidelines for educational purposes only. Always discuss medications with your own healthcare professional before taking them.
From my own travel experiences, I’ve found that being extra cautious with what and where I eat has saved me from the discomfort of foodborne illness many times. One key habit, as highlighted, is thoroughly washing your hands with soap and water before meals, especially when traveling through busy airports or crowded destinations. Germs linger on commonly touched surfaces like door handles and elevator buttons, which many people underestimate. I also make it a point to select foods that are freshly cooked and served hot. Buffets and food courts can be tempting, but foods that have been sitting out for extended periods—especially meats, seafood, or dairy-based items—pose a higher risk. I avoid raw salads, unpeeled fruits, and uncooked vegetables unless I’m sure of their cleanliness. Drinking only factory-sealed beverages and steering clear of tap water and ice cubes in high-risk areas has also helped me stay healthy. One lesser-known prevention method I use is taking bismuth subsalicylate, the active ingredient in Pepto-Bismol. When started a day before travel and continued during the trip, studies show it can reduce the risk of travelers’ diarrhea by about 65%. That said, it’s crucial to consult a healthcare professional before use—especially if you are on blood thinners, aspirin, or have certain medical conditions—as it isn’t suitable for everyone. Even with precautions, no method is foolproof, but combining consistent hand hygiene, careful food choices, and preventative medication when appropriate greatly minimizes the chances of food poisoning and travelers’ diarrhea. These practices not only protect your health but also help ensure your trip is enjoyable and worry-free.
