Regardless of your destination, there are certain things you should avoid while traveling. Be sure to avoid eating and drinking unpasteurized milk, fish, and cheese. These foods are generally regarded as unsafe, so if you can, avoid them while abroad. Here are some other things to avoid:
Unpasteurized milk
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warn travelers to avoid unpasteurized milk and other dairy products while traveling. Even if unpasteurized milk does not taste bad, it may still contain harmful bacteria. Therefore, pregnant women and those with compromised immune systems should avoid the product. They should also avoid iced beverages, including beer and wine. Although alcohol can kill germs, it may not be safe to drink unpasteurized milk while traveling.
Some states prohibit the sale of raw milk in stores. However, several states have rules requiring warning labels on milk sold by retail outlets. In addition, some states allow dairy products made from raw milk on store shelves or at farmer’s markets. To avoid contamination, you should choose cheese that is labeled “pasteurized.” When choosing cheese, choose hard cheese since it contains less moisture and reduces the chance of dangerous bacteria growing in it.
Raw milk has been linked to many outbreaks of foodborne illness. According to the CDC, raw milk has been linked to 1,909 illnesses and 144 hospitalizations. Infections caused by raw milk are usually Shiga toxin-producing E. coli or Campylobacter. But these cases are just the tip of the iceberg. Many other illnesses do not occur in a recognized outbreak, which makes the risk of infection higher.
It is important to avoid drinking unpasteurized milk while traveling, which can result in brucellosis, an infection caused by bacteria that affects humans. While the majority of brucellosis cases are caused by drinking milk that has not been pasteurized is still considered risky. While there are still no official guidelines for consumption of raw milk while traveling, the CDC recommends that travelers avoid drinking raw milk while on vacation.
While there are numerous outbreaks of the disease, they are likely to be a blip on the iceberg. Thankfully, pasteurization is an industry that protects consumers. The process of heating milk to a high temperature kills harmful microbes, but it also maintains the nutritional value of the product. Health Canada made pasteurization mandatory in 1991. Raw milk is also risky for travelers with compromised immune systems.
Unpasteurized milk is not the only source of foodborne illness while traveling, but it’s still worth avoiding when you’re abroad. The majority of countries have laws that prohibit the sale of unpasteurized milk, and the United States Supreme Court has ruled in favor of this practice. In addition to this, unpasteurized milk has a lower bacterial count than pasteurized milk.
Unpasteurized fish
While traveling, you should also steer clear of some of the foods that you’re used to enjoying at home. These include monkey and bat meats, unusual wild game, bushmeat, and raw eggs. You should also avoid eating anything that’s not thoroughly cooked or contaminated with raw eggs and shellfish. Foods that don’t make the cut are often a breeding ground for dangerous germs. Unpasteurized fish to avoid while traveling should also be avoided.
Although the United States has some of the safest food supplies in the world, traveling abroad means you’ll likely be in a country with less food safety. According to Joan Salge Blake, clinical associate professor of nutrition at Boston University, eating uncooked meat, poultry, and seafood is especially risky. These raw products may contain harmful bacteria and parasites that can make you sick. For this reason, you’ll want to stick to sushi you prepare at home, or eat it at a reputable restaurant.
In addition to unpasteurized fish, it’s important to be aware of other foods you should avoid. Unpasteurized milk and cheese may contain pathogenic microorganisms, including Salmonella. These foods can also cause miscarriage or stillbirth. Likewise, unpasteurized cheeses can carry harmful pathogens such as Listeria, which is a deadly disease. Approximately 260 people die from it each year.
As with meat, be wary of sauces. Pay special attention to the ingredients of sauces and broths. Unpasteurized water, herbs, and eggs can be harmful. Unless you have the proper knowledge of local water pollution, you should avoid these products. Always use alcohol-based hand sanitizers on your hands before you eat them. And be careful not to touch your mucous membranes with your hands. You can also get sick from eating raw fish, so make sure to stay away from these products while traveling.
Unpasteurized cheese
While there are several benefits to eating unpasteurized cheese while traveling, it also comes with certain risks. Unlike pasteurized cheese, which has a short shelf life, unpasteurized cheese is not regulated by the FDA. Instead, they age in unregulated facilities that often don’t meet the highest sanitation standards. Moreover, the risk of eating unpasteurized cheese is far greater outside the US, where regulations on food safety are weaker.
Those with weakened immune systems should avoid unpasteurized cheese. Although pasteurization kills off bacteria, some varieties may still be contaminated with harmful Listeria bacteria. This bacterium can lead to illnesses like miscarriage and stillbirth, among others. A severe and sometimes fatal infection called listeriosis is caused by consuming unpasteurized cheese. Unfortunately, 260 people die from this disease each year. Fortunately, there are ways to avoid the risk by choosing pasteurized cheese.
Many travelers choose to buy only pasteurized cheese while traveling. Although many states do not require the cheese to be pasteurized, unpasteurized cheese can harbor harmful bacteria. Foodborne illnesses are particularly harmful to pregnant women and children. Unpasteurized cheese may also cause diarrhea, vomiting, or fever. It’s important to read the label and check the safety record to ensure that you don’t risk any complications from cheese.
The FDA’s recommendations do not reflect the findings of the current outbreaks. The agency should review the outbreak data and produce a table detailing which types of cheese are most likely to carry Listeria. There are several reasons for this, but the basic premise isn’t supported by data. To begin, many outbreaks have been traced to unpasteurized “Mexican-style” cheese and pasteurized “soft cheese.”
Ultimately, if the FDA wants to prevent a listeria outbreak, it needs to clarify the risks associated with unpasteurized “Mexican-style” cheese. In the past, public health agencies have resorted to public service announcements to warn pregnant women about the risks of unpasteurized cheese. While this approach is generally helpful, it must be supplemented by more effective and nuanced takeaways.
While bringing cheese on a trip, it is important to consider the temperature at which it is stored. Generally, long delays will cause the cheese to spoil. A quick solution is to melt the cheese in a pot and serve it as a fondue party. To avoid spoilage, Koster recommends avoiding cheese that has been sitting out in deli cases for too long. Lastly, if you’re unsure about how to properly transport cheese, wrap it tightly in paper or wet towel.
You can find unpasteurized cheese while traveling at local grocery stores or farmer’s markets. Despite its name, unpasteurized cheese is dangerous for travelers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend avoiding unpasteurized soft cheese to protect yourself and your baby. In addition to unpasteurized cheese, the bacteria listeria are present in all types of dairy products, including yogurt and ice cream. Unpasteurized cheese is not safe for pregnant women, and you should avoid it unless you’re traveling by air.
