Be FoodWise

Select your food with care. All raw food is subject to contamination, particularly in areas where hygiene and sanitation are inadequate. You are advised to avoid salads, uncooked vegetables, fruits and juices unless you peel or squeeze them yourself. Watermelons are often injected with tap water to increase their weight. Avoid unpasteurized milk and milk products, such as cheese. Heated foods must be cooked well and served while still hot. Avoid raw or undercooked eggs, meat, fish, shellfish and buffet food that can be handled frequently and served over and over again. Street vendors may have cooked your taco meat well-done, but watch out for the salsa, lettuce and tomato, and realize flavored ices sold by street vendors are especially risky. If you are in a developing country and invited to a private home for dinner, be Foodwise-make sure that the food is served hot and make sure that it is cooked. Studies have shown that food served in private homes has just as much potential for contamination as restaurant food.