Food, Drinks To Avoid When Abroad

If you're heading overseas on vacation or business this summer or anytime, it's a good idea to steer clear of certain foods and drinks to keep from getting sick.

On The Early Show Thursday, medical correspondent Dr. Emily Senay observed that one of the joys of traveling is eating things that you wouldn't normally try. But, she stressed, it's very important to make sure whatever you consume, exotic or otherwise, is safe.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention gives chapter and verse on this on its Web site. It includes a list of places to be particularly wary of.

Senay offered a thorough look, as well.

She said the result of eating or drinking the wrong thing "isn't pretty." Contaminated food or water can produce diarrhea, stomach cramps and fever. And those are just the nasty symptoms. The underlying illnesses can be serious and life-threatening. They include viral infections such as hepatitis A, bacteria, intestinal parasites and dysentery.

Of course, these sicknesses can hit close to home, but travelers to other countries may need to be especially concerned.

If you're someplace where sanitation is questionable, she told co-anchor Julie Chen "You have about a 50 percent chance … of taking home souvenirs you really, probably don't want!"

She said you can avoid problems by remembering that, "It all starts with the water." You've probably heard the expression, "Don't drink the water." The CDC advises that you shouldn't drink it unless you know your water has been very thoroughly boiled or it comes in a factory-sealed bottle. The reason that bottled water needs to be sealed is so you know that it actually came from the factory. Otherwise, the bottle might have been refilled with water from a questionable source.

If you're thirsty, you can drink the bottled water, as long as it's sealed when you get it. Brush your teeth with it, too. Don't risk using tap water. Other safe beverages include name-brand drinks that come in sealed cans or bottles, such as carbonated mineral water and soft drinks and, if you don't overdo it, beer or wine. If you know the water in your cup has been boiled well, coffee or tea should be fine. One thing to know about beverages you drink from cans or bottles: If the outside of the container is wet, wipe the surface dry, just in case the source of that moisture is untreated water.

Ice cubes should also be on your do-not-consume list, Senay cautioned. Some solid food is also of concern.

No matter how tempting certain raw foods may look, they also might make you sick, either because the location where they were grown or caught was contaminated, or because water used to grow, wash or prepare them is unsafe.

"All raw food," Senay remarked to Chen, "probably should be considered contaminated until proven otherwise."

Shellfish or meat that's either raw or undercooked can cause illness. The CDC also urges you to avoid salads, uncooked vegetables, and un-pasteurized milk products, including cheese. Vegetables should be hot: "Make sure they haven't been sitting out all day," Senay said.

If you eat fresh fruit, insist on peeling the fruit yourself, to be sure the part you'll eat wasn't contaminated after peeling. And whatever you feel like eating, avoid buying it from street vendors. You don't know where it's been.

You can try to protect yourself by taking medication ahead of time, Senay said.

There is evidence that a bismuth-based over-the-counter product like the famous pink stuff might reduce the risk or the severity of illness, though you definitely should ask your doctor before you try that, because it might produce complications in people who are pregnant, allergic to aspirin, or taking certain other medications that can interact with it.

Also, your doctor may or may not want to prescribe an antibiotic ahead of time, to have in case you do get sick. If you become ill, and you're tempted to take an anti-diarrheal medication, you should evaluate your symptoms first. If you have a fever, or bloody diarrhea, those drugs may do more harm than good. At that point, a visit or call to a doctor may be your next step.