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Traveling to India and eating safely
By Ravi Balsa
This is an article about eating out safely while traveling especially in third world countries (or emerging market countries) and any new destination for that matter. I'm going to focus on India because that's a country I'm very familiar with and I used these same principles when I traveled there recently. A lot of these principles are counter intuitive so please keep an open mind. Having said that remember that there is no reward without risk! Eating out while traveling is one of the great pleasures of the journey. Flavors, textures, smells can be exotic. The memory of an unexpectedly delicious meal can last a lifetime. There is something exhilarating about stepping outside of your comfort zone and eating can be an act of courage. Principle 1: Eat where the crowd eats. Whether it is a street vendor, “five star hotel” as they call it in India or a McDonalds, watch for the crowd. A big crowd means that food is being made fresh and turning over quickly. A big crowd also means that the vendor isn't killing people and has a good reputation. So don't be afraid of street vendors, some are quite safe. Principle 2: Hot over cold. If you have a choice, eat hot food. Remember that a week of deep fried high cholesterol food is preferable to a lifetime of hepatitis B. That means avoid refrigerated food like milk, fruit juice, sandwiches, premade meals. Principle 3: Open kitchen is always preferable to a closed kitchen. If you see what your food handler is doing, that is a lot better than wondering what goes on back in the Kitchen. The exception would be if you are eating at the very best three star and above restaurants in India. On average three star restaurants and above can be trusted with a closed kitchen. Principle 4: No raw or undercooked meat. This goes without saying. Depending on where you are in India, western food is becoming more popular. If you find raw oysters or rare steak on the menu, ask for well done. I would not trust raw food or undercooked food even if it came from a five star restaurant. Indian chefs are good at a lot of things but sushi is not a strong suit. Principle 5: Get vaccinated first. It is possible to get vaccinated for dangerous potential food borne illnesses like Hepatitis A and B prior to travel. Typhoid vaccines and Cholera vaccines are also available. Principle 6: Talk to the locals. It is one of the best ways to learn about the culture, get the inside scoop and maybe even practice the native language. Guidebooks like Lonely Planet aren't updated often and because they have to cover so much ground, they might not even be accurate. Ask several locals and get an average opinion. And of course remember Principle 1: Watch for the crowd. Unless they are all eating rare steak! I hope these principles help you have a safe and exciting journey. P.S. If you're still scared, pack a big box of dried fruit and jerky. It'll be just one big camping trip! |
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Sounds like good advice!
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