Street vendor roasting chestnuts in Seville, Spain. To find the best street food, watch where the locals go.
Budget Travel Magazine recently released its list of the cities with the world’s tastiest street food. An eclectic selection of culinary treasure troves, the list features a number of Vantage destinations: Rio de Janeiro (#6), Brussels (#8), Vienna (#9), Istanbul (#10), Tel Aviv (#11), Bangkok (#12) and Hanoi (#13).
But while sampling a city’s delicious food can be one of the most gratifying aspects of traveling, smart travelers take special care to make sure what they’re eating won’t make them sick. Remembering a handful of general principles relating to food safety can make your culinary experience the best it can be — whether you’re picking up a fresh acai shake in Rio or a sabich pita sandwich in Tel Aviv.
- Drinking water is the most common source of dietary problems while traveling. Because foods are often washed and cooked in water, water quality ought to be a concern for any discerning traveler. [Note: We recommend bringing along a reusable bottle to refill with water that has been boiled or purified with tablets, which are available at most outdoors stores. Plastic bottle waste is one of the biggest environmental crises in many developing countries popular to travelers.] As a last resort, bottled water is available in most places around the world.
- Above safety concerns in mind, drink lots of water. You’re walking around a lot, often in warm temperatures, and thus your likelihood of becoming dehydrated is much higher than when you’re sedentary. Aim for drinking around 2 Liters of water throughout the day.
- Live by the colonial mantra, “Cook it, wash it, peel it or forget it.” Foods that are cooked or in their peels are less susceptible to airborne contaminants than raw or uncooked foods. Any raw fruits or vegetables you consume should be washed in purified water.
- Stick to condiments – like mayonnaise, ketchup and salad dressing – that are served in sealed packages.
- Order meats and eggs well-done or medium-well and eat them while they are hot.
- In certain places, avoid cold meat platters, cheese, buffet foods, unpasteurized dairy products and unsealed condiments.
- Fish tend to accumulate and store contaminants from a variety of sources. Order seafood at your own risk and only from well-trusted sources.
- A good snack food in most places are nuts and other shelled foods.
- Not all street vendors or restaurants are created equal. Ask locals or a hotel concierge for their recommended list of restaurants or vendors, or else follow the crowds to the area’s better dining-out spots.
- Bring your own plates and utensils, if you have them. This is a way to cut risk from food-borne illness due to improper washing.
Though these tips don’t apply in every travel situation, thinking about what you’re eating and drinking while traveling will ensure that you stay happy and healthy while on vacation. For the latest food advisories in your travel destinations, visit The World Health Organization’s Food Safety website before you leave home.
