Food Hygiene & Sanitation

Becki

So many stories and experiences about Delhi belly and other ailments for tourists. I cross my fingers that I do not have to sit in a bathroom for days when I go there. Why is there not more teaching about hygiene, food preparation and sanitation in India? Even top restaurants I hear people have had bad experiences.

Haylo

Well I'll stick my neck out and say that I believe it is unforgiveable that people get food poisoning in restaurants which should have the means to prevent it. This is not just about India, it happens in Europe too and presumably in America. I remember an outbreak of E. coli 0157 in Scotland about ten years back - it killed over twenty people!

For restaurants which do have sufficient resources to provide things like staff training and backup generators for refrigeration, I really do not think there can be any excuse for giving their customers salmonella and E. coli!

Entirely safe food hygiene and preparation may not be possible in all situations, but at markets here in England I still see a lot more which could be done at negligible cost, for instance at Camden Market last weekend I saw a food stall using the same chopping board for raw then cooked meats.

Some of this stuff really is not rocket science!

PeakXV

Haylo is absolutely right - it can happen anywhere. One thing about India is that restaurant/hotel staff will not get perturbed or put out in anyway if you ask 'to see' or 'inspect' their kitchen before you order/eat. This practice saves us more than one case of Delhi Belly in past visits. We also adopted the habit of asking for their 'coldest drink' that they have before ordering any food - partly because we needed it & partly to test the efficiency of their refridgeration(is any) system.

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We shall not cease from exploration and at the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started ...and know the place for the first time.
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Don't go to India ~ Pre-trip Warnings & Misconceptions?

mira4bai4

Hi Becki,

I have been living here since Feb 2006 and have been sick a few times, have had Giardia twice a really good fever just recently and in the past.

I carry with me every where Dependal M and I am pleased that
i do as it has been really helpful in getting over things quickly.

Haylo

*sigh* Yet another reason to force myself to have a beer!

This is all going to be SUCH a trial...

brownboy66

if you have to force yourself, your simply not in the right frame of mind!

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Becki

Do the locals get sick often? I mean presumably they drink the water and eat anywhere. Do they just have a stronger stomach or is it just us tourists and expats?

Mind just boggles how simple health rules are ignored, especially when India continually tries to promote itself as a prime tourist destination. The problem is one major reason why I hear why people want to avoid going there.

I mean, aren't there any government campaigns run to educate people about this? Regarding water, why is there no better infrastructure to improve water purification and practices?...or am I just being naive here??....

Btw - we have a saying...if you are worried about hygiene, don't bother walking past the kitchen at ANY restaurant!

PeakXV

Might behoove you to do so every now & then in India - especially in some of the more 'thriftier' dhabas ..... just might make the difference between Delhi Belly or Delhi Hospital.

Becki

PeakXV...hahah...I know...it's a good idea.

I think however if I end up checking all restaurants in India, I might decide to rather starve maybe...

bruce3404

I travel with the assumption that I'm going to get sick in 2nd and 3rd World countries. I also use common sense (most of the time) as far as not eating lettuce, drinking only water (or beer) from sealed containers, no ice and only eating fruits that need to be peeled. I did get sick once during my past 6 week trip to India as I was stupid enough to eat at an outdoor restaurant geared towards laborers when I was starving. Use your best common sense and accept that you might get sick.

capt_mahajan

Give us some time. We are waiting to get re-colonised, this time by McDonalds.

Then all will be ok.

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Sama

just don't eat "jam cakes" in cochin and you'll be fine...

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My India, 2005-2008

vandy

Thats because they haven't Experienced Ramsay the
Well Spoken English Chef.

I reckon he would even give the kitchens in the
Swankiest Hotels a

vandy

hfot2

Without ice - of course!

PeakXV

......without a glass - straight out of the beer bottle in some(most) of those 'lesser' joints we were in.