Eat and drink safely outside Canada

The most common illnesses among travellers are often caused by eating food or drinking beverages contaminated by bacteria, parasites or viruses. Always take precautions with food and water to avoid getting sick.

On this page

• Eating and drinking
• Swimming and bathing
• Water treatment methods

Consult a health care provider or visit a travel health clinic about six weeks before your departure date. Even if your travel date is coming up soon, it's still worthwhile to make an appointment.

Eating and drinking

• Boil it, cook it, peel it or leave it (only eat food that is prepared safely).
• Wash your hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use a hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol for 20 seconds or until dry.
  • This is especially important before eating or preparing food, and after using the bathroom, changing diapers, or having had contact with animals or sick people.
• Only eat foods that are well cooked and served hot.
  • Avoid food served at room temperature.
• Avoid raw or undercooked (rare) meats and fish, including shellfish.
• Only eat fruits and vegetables if you have washed them in safe water or peeled them yourself.
• Avoid salads, or other items that are made with fresh produce.
• Avoid food from street vendors.
• Drink water only if it has been boiled or disinfected or if it is in a commercially sealed bottle.
• Use ice made from purified or disinfected water.
• Commercially sealed beverages in cans or bottles and served unopened are generally safe.
  • Examples include:
    • carbonated drinks
    • drinks made with boiled water and served steaming hot, such as coffee and tea
• Brush your teeth with purified or bottled water.
• Avoid unpasteurized dairy products and fruit juices.

If you have a food allergy, be especially vigilant when travelling outside Canada:

• Make sure you always carry at least two epinephrine auto-injectors (in case one is defective).
  • In some countries, epinephrine auto-injectors are difficult to find or not available.
• As always, carefully check the list of ingredients before eating pre-packaged foods.
  • Note that some countries do not require that priority allergens be identified on food labels.
  • Be cautious with bulk products because they do not provide a list of ingredients.
• Before dining out, check the restaurant's website (if available) to see if they have a food allergy policy or procedure.
  • If they don’t have an allergy policy, it's best to avoid them.
• When dining out, talk to the server and explain your food allergies before ordering.
  • It's important not to simply mention your specific allergy, but to clearly state that you cannot tolerate exposure to that allergen, which could lead to an immediate severe reaction.
  • If you think the server doesn't understand, ask to speak to a manager or the chef.
  • If possible, choose simple dishes because dishes with multiple ingredients (e.g., sauces or desserts) may contain hidden allergens.
  • If in doubt, don't eat the dish.
• Learn more about travelling with food allergies from:
  • Food Allergy Canada
  • FARE (Food Allergy Research and Education)

Swimming and bathing

• Avoid, if possible, getting water in your eyes, mouth, or nose when swimming in freshwater (like streams, lakes, or canals), especially after heavy rain or flooding - the water might look clean but can still be contaminated.
• Don’t swallow water when bathing, showering, swimming in pools or using hot tubs. 

Water treatment methods

To ensure that water is safe to drink, there are several water treatment methods available for travellers.

Boiling

• Boiling water is the best method to make water safe to drink.
  • Water should be brought to a rolling boil for 1 minute.

Chemical disinfectants

• Chlorine and iodine chemical disinfectants come in many forms including drops, tablets and packets of powder.
• The chemical disinfectant should be purchased in Canada, if possible.
• Chemical disinfectants may not remove all parasites.
  • Water should also be filtered or boiled to ensure safety.
• Iodine containing disinfectants should not be used:
  • by children
  • by pregnant women
  • by those with thyroid problems or known iodine sensitivity
  • for more than a few weeks at a time
• Chemical disinfectants should be used with caution.
  • The manufacturer’s instructions should be followed carefully as this approach may not be effective or may be dangerous if used incorrectly.

Portable filtration devices

• Portable filtration devices include:
  • ceramic filters
  • carbon filters
  • membrane filters
• Filters should have a pore size of less than 0.5 microns to be most effective.
• Filters may not remove all viruses.
  • Filtered water should also be purified using a chemical disinfectant or boiled to ensure safety. 

Ultraviolet (UV) light

• UV light devices are effective to disinfect small quantities of clear water.
  • Germs in cloudy water can be shielded from the light by small particles.

Bottled water

• Bottled water from a trusted source is a convenient alternative to water purification.
  • Before drinking bottled water, ensure the seal has not been tampered.

Related links

• If you become sick or injured
• Travel vaccinations