people often discuss the importance of care in selecting "safe" foods and beverages for consumption. we recommend that foods be freshly cooked and be piping hot; such foods are safer than those on a buffet that have been sitting out for hours. water should be bottled and sealed or boiled. alcohol is ok but ice cubes are not. but sometimes people do everything they are supposed to do regarding the selection of food and beverages and still get sick. often it's really the lack of sanitation within the food industry -- contamination may occur anywhere from when the food comes out of the ground to the preparer or the server. food can be tainted at any point along that route. so restaurant hygiene and food service worker hygiene may be out of the traveler's control but both play a role in whether disease is transmitted. and sometimes it’s the travelers who contaminate themselves. remember: try to clean your hands before eating whether with soap and water or a hand sanitizer. and travelers should avoid touching their face mouth or mucous membranes with their hands.
how can i prevent travelers' diarrhea?