# Food and Water Safety Abroad: How to Avoid Getting Sick URL: https://emptvl.vercel.app/travel-guides/food-and-water-safety-abroad Publisher: Empyrean Travel (https://emptvl.vercel.app/) Last reviewed: 2026-10-19 Food and water safety abroad: when tap water is risky, the safest drinks and foods, street food and ice, and what to do if travelers’ diarrhea strikes anyway. **Quick answer:** Where tap water may be unsafe, drink factory-sealed bottled or canned drinks, skip ice and brush your teeth with bottled or treated water. Eat food that’s cooked and served steaming hot, and be cautious with raw salads, cut fruit, fresh salsas and ceviche. Pack oral rehydration salts, and ask a clinician before you go about treating travelers’ diarrhea. - Safest drinks: Sealed bottles and cans, hot coffee or tea - Skip: Ice and fountain drinks where water is unsafe - Safest food: Cooked and served steaming hot - Riskiest food: Raw salads, cut fruit, ceviche, salsas ## How do you know if the tap water is safe to drink? Check the CDC’s destination page for the country you’re visiting, which flags food and water risks, and ask your hotel. In much of Western Europe, Japan, Australia and Canada, tap water is generally treated and safe. In many other regions, it may not be, even in good hotels. Upscale resorts and safari lodges often filter their water and provide bottled water in rooms. Use what they provide, and ask rather than assume. When in doubt, treat tap water as unsafe for drinking and brushing teeth. ## What should you drink, and what should you avoid? Drinks are the easiest place to reduce risk, because safe options are usually easy to find. - Safer: drinks from unopened, factory-sealed bottles or cans, carbonated drinks, and coffee or tea served steaming hot - Safer: tap water that has been boiled, or properly filtered and disinfected - Avoid: ice, which is usually made from tap water - Avoid: fountain drinks and freshly squeezed juices made by others - Avoid: swallowing water in the shower, and brushing teeth with tap water ## Which foods are safest when you travel? Food that’s cooked and served steaming hot is the safest choice, because heat kills most germs. Factory-sealed packaged foods and dry foods such as bread and crackers are usually safe too. Fruit you wash and peel yourself, with clean hands, is a reasonable choice. The riskiest foods are raw or uncooked: salads, even finely shredded ones, cut fruit, fresh salsas, raw or undercooked meat and seafood, and ceviche. Buffets with food sitting at room temperature deserve caution. Street food can be fine if it’s cooked to order and served piping hot. ## What should you do if you get travelers’ diarrhea? Drink plenty of fluids, and use oral rehydration salts for more serious cases, especially for children and older travelers. The CDC notes that over-the-counter medicines such as loperamide can reduce symptoms. Some clinicians prescribe a standby antibiotic for severe cases; take it only as directed. Seek medical care for high fever, bloody stools, signs of dehydration or symptoms that don’t improve, and see a doctor if severe diarrhea starts after you get home. Pack the basics in your travel first aid kit, and see a clinician before you go; our travel health and vaccines guide explains vaccines like hepatitis A and typhoid. ## Do water filter bottles and purifiers work? Boiling is the most reliable way to make water safe. Filters vary: many remove bacteria and parasites, but most don’t remove viruses unless combined with chemical disinfection or UV treatment. Read the product’s specifications before relying on one. For treks and remote travel, carry purification tablets as a backup; see the adventure trek packing list. On safari, most camps handle drinking water for you; our guide to luxury safari lodges explains what to expect. ## Frequently asked questions **Q: Is bottled water always safe to drink abroad?** A: Factory-sealed bottled water from a reputable brand is generally safe. Check that the seal is intact before you drink, since bottles are occasionally refilled with tap water. Carbonated water offers extra reassurance, because a refilled bottle won’t fizz. If you’re unsure, choose canned or carbonated drinks, or boil water for at least a minute. **Q: Can I brush my teeth with tap water when traveling?** A: Not where tap water may be unsafe. The CDC recommends brushing your teeth with bottled or disinfected water in those places, and avoiding swallowing water in the shower. Keep a bottle of water by the sink as a reminder. Where tap water is generally safe, such as much of Western Europe, normal habits are fine. **Q: Is street food safe to eat?** A: It can be, with judgment. Choose food that’s cooked to order and served steaming hot, from busy stalls where food doesn’t sit around, and skip raw garnishes, salsas and cut fruit. Avoid anything served lukewarm or kept at room temperature. Clean your hands with sanitizer before eating, since you’ll often eat with your fingers. **Q: What should I do if I get sick from food or water abroad?** A: Rest, drink plenty of fluids and use oral rehydration salts if symptoms are significant. Over-the-counter medicines such as loperamide can ease symptoms, and a clinician-prescribed standby antibiotic may be appropriate for severe cases. Seek medical care for high fever, bloody stools, dehydration or symptoms that persist, and see a doctor if severe diarrhea starts after you return. **Q: Are ice cubes safe in cocktails abroad?** A: Not where tap water may be unsafe, unless you know the ice was made from purified water. Some upscale hotels and resorts make ice from filtered water, so ask the bar. If you can’t confirm, order drinks without ice, choose bottled or canned drinks, or enjoy beer and wine served chilled instead. ## Sources - [CDC: Food and water safety](https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/food-water-safety) - [CDC: Travelers’ diarrhea](https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/travelers-diarrhea) - [CDC: Destinations](https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/list)