Street FOOD? Advice

04274108

True. However, I would add on that you watch the food be prepared before buying. When one of my few cravings for meat kicked in, I went to a tandoori chicken stall. It smelled and looked wonderful. However, the chef was chopping the cooked meat with the same cleaver he used to cut up the raw chicken. Good potetial for Salmonella or e coli if the bird was infected.

As well, those stalls that make those tiny donuts and deep fried breads do a brisk business. However, on a few occasions, I've seen pigeons land at the side of the batter and take a few beak fulls.

camelgirl

All good advice, and especially the advice to be AWARE of what's going on in/at the stall. I personally avoid meat/chicken as much as possible when in India, though I eat plenty here at home. They do such good veggie food it isn't too hard. Especially in the South. I really crave those South Indian specialties.

Unfortunately, even doing everything right, you can sometimes just get a bout of food poisoning which will make you feel bad for a day or so. Push fluids and relax and stay near the loo. I've personally been careful and lucky in India, though been "felled" in other countries, including my own (USA). My husband has not had equal luck in India, but it has not stopped us from returning over and over

Sunray

See, I didn't really eat it and never got sick. I ate it occasionally when I knew it was fresh fried, but they don't cover any of it and there are too many flies for it to be appetising.

Cut fruit is responsible for the fact that in Delhi they have over 300 cases of Cholera every year!!

I read a report that in Calcutta they are taking some basic hygene courses and they are getting more business.

camelgirl

I read that also a couple of months ago. It was a really great article about how enthusiastic the street sellers were to learn more hygienic methods!
http://www.sciencedaily.com/upi/inde...ia-hygiene.xml

This is just a short version of the whole article.

This is a longer version, http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Str...neclick=tr ue

Meanwhile, travelers need to be careful, as already mentioned previously!

jay_m_222

As tempting as it was to have Paan.....don't! The betel leaves were sitting in water, which I am pretty sure was not bottled

Opt for a nice pack of Gutka instead......in moderation of course!

byronic

I've had paan from street vendors, fresh cleaned leaves and never gotten sick. Then again I don't swallow the juice, and save it for as big a paan spit as possible.

So I say paan is safe.

SHIMLA

I can't believe we actually have recommendations for Gutka and Paan !! Compared to these the flies infested food is far safer!

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sadhuji

street foods are the in thing in kolkata. a visit to areas which house the offices on bbd square or around park street, minto park etc will show hundreds of men and women lunching on the sidewalks. the food served is, obviously, cheap (since there are no ovreheads!) and considered to be reasonably safe.

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xairoise

supposing you did all the precautions you needed and still got sick... how many days would a delhi belly set u back?

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SHIMLA

Three days, to recover full fitness.

xairoise

pretty tough .... but after the initial setback, you'ld be immune already? kinda like getting measles? I've never really gotten out of the philippines yet, but i do have a high tolerance for street food (that most of my canadian friends get sick from). am planning for india next year... and would love to feel the real india (street food, see temples, go around bazaars)... just don't know if my body is ready for the influx of new bacteria.... hmmmm

SHIMLA

The loose motions will be controlled in a single day with right diet and medicine; the two extra days are required to regain the strength of the body to previous level.

I'm not sure, but I do not think one attack guarantees immunity for the rest of the trip. I strongly suggest avoiding street food and non-boiled/bottled water during monsoon.

hfot2

Though I am a good girl and never eat bad food and (almost) never get sick, my husband tends to eat anything not actually moving, and he always gets sick. EXCEPT ON OUR RECENT TRIP TO INDIA. How come? Our local (USA) pharmacist recommended we take Pepto-Bismol at the very first hint of a nervous belly. Pepto-Bismol is available in tablet form, very convenient for travelers. We in fact used the generic substitute ("pink bismuth tablets" – bismuth subsalicylate 262 mg) available at our local supermarket. Apart from its giving us blackened tongues (as the package warns – something to do with the bismuth), it prevented our getting bad belly or bowel anywhere during our six weeks in India. This is a first for us in many years of travel. (Of course this time I actually managed to prevent my husband from eating food he'd picked up out of the gutter.)

crvlvr

Does this really work? The concept being the alcohol in your stomach will kill any bacteria that you cosume with your food preventign it from infecting you.. Any doctors in the house, who would like to comment?

Laflx

Great. I am going to take kyo-dophilous with all my food to aid digestion but the little pink tablets might come in handy if there is any sign of upset. THANKS