Food is an important part of travelling whether the trip is for work or fun and besides being tasty and good to eat, it should also be safe for consumption. Quite many a times, people fall sick when they do not maintain safe food handling practices.

Common symptoms observed in a food borne illness are diarrhea, an upset stomach, cramps, vomiting and general malaise. These can spoil anyone's trip and can be serious for the very young, elderly or persons who are not in good health for other reasons. The following are a few simple principles that can help you avoid food borne illness when you travel:

When you are eating out - check the overall appearance of the restaurant and personnel. If the restaurant's general appearance raises any doubts about the attention to cleanliness and hygiene, order very carefully or choose another restaurant.

When in doubt, order foods that are cooked just before serving. For example, a hot dal, vegetable dish, grilled vegetable and meat products are likely to be safer than cold meals like salads, sandwiches etc  

If you don't have a cooler or insulated container, then rely on processed and canned foods like processed cheeses, crackers, butter, jam, biscuits. Throw away leftover food, particularly egg and meat products that are left after the meal.

If you buy fresh fruit or vegetables from roadside markets, wash them thoroughly with clean water before eating.