Be wary of buffet food. Has it been kept at safe temperatures?

Here in the Ashford office, surrounded as we are by some of the finest restaurants and food outlets, food and beverages are never far from our thoughts. We always have coffee and cake or biscuits ready for clients and visitors who pop in to see the team. And a lot of our work is based around food, especially allergen awareness and food safety training for people who work with food.

Food safety revolves around a set of basic rules, designed to prevent food poisoning. It occurred to us that these rules apply not just to professionals. Everyone can follow the same guidelines to stay safe when eating at home, eating out and especially when eating in a foreign country.

1 Check the water is safe

In many countries, tap water isn’t safe to drink because of bacteria, parasites, and viruses. Even a small amount of contaminated tap water could make you very ill. Before you go, check if your destination has a drinkable water supply.

If you’re in any doubt, don’t drink tap water or anything that’s made with it, including ice cubes. Buy bottled water instead, and make sure the seal is intact before you drink it or brush your teeth with it. Carbonated water is a good idea because the bubbles will let you know that the bottle has been properly sealed.

2 Got a known food issue? Be extra vigilant

People with a known food allergy or intolerance, or coeliac disease are used to being extra careful when eating out; checking labels, asking staff for lists of ingredients and informing restaurant managers of their needs. Plan ahead and be ready to ramp up vigilance before you go abroad, especially if you’re off to exotic climes. Learn the local words for your allergy or condition and carry a translation card with the information on it.

3 Check out the reviews

Before you go out to eat, find out what other people are saying about the restaurant. Go online, ask fellow travellers what they’ve experienced or heard, ask the locals. Check the restaurant’s health and hygiene ratings and look for certificates or other evidence that staff have completed food safety training.

4 Look for safe food-handling practices.

Of course most kitchens are out of sight but if you can see food being prepared, check how the staff are handling the food. Are they using separate utensils for different foods? Are they wearing protective clothing? Are they (horror of horrors!) picking their nose, or coughing and sneezing all over the food?

5 Be wary of raw food

If in doubt, avoid eating raw food when you’re abroad. This includes raw or undercooked eggs, meat, poultry and seafood. Avoid raw fruit and veg too, unless they have a thick skin you can peel yourself, such as bananas and citrus fruit. That leafy salad might look safe, but it could have been rinsed with contaminated water.

6 Make sure food is the correct temperature

Steer clear of food that’s lukewarm or has been sitting at room temperature. Stick to cold or hot foods instead. Be wary of buffets, as food might not be kept at safe temperatures and can be mishandled. (Think of all the other people who have been serving themselves – they might not be as hygienic as you!)

  • Hot food should be piping hot: 60°C and above
  • Cold food should be displayed on ice or in a refrigerated cabinet and should feel cold when you eat it: 5°C or less
  • Each food dish should have its own serving utensils
  • Food should be covered
  • Plates and cutlery should be clean and dry

7 Use your senses

If it doesn’t look right, smell right or taste right, stop eating immediately. If something tastes ‘off’, it’s a long way past being fresh. But remember, food that contains dangerous bacteria or viruses might not look, smell or taste any different from food that is safe.

8 Make personal hygiene a priority

Clean your hands often. Washing your hands is key to preventing illness – whether you’re at home or abroad. Wash your hands with soap and hot water, especially before eating and after using the toilet. Dry them using an air dryer or paper towels. Use disinfectant wipes or an antibacterial hand sanitiser to clean your hands and wipe surfaces (e.g. door handles).

What set us off on this rant?

Looks delicious but where have those hands been?

On holiday in Sicily recently, a coach-load of British visitors went on an organised excursion to a vineyard on the slopes of Mount Etna. The vineyard owner gave visitors a guided tour of his premises and invited them to sample the wine and some local delicacies. There was home-made bread and a selection of cooked meats, bowls of sun-dried tomatoes, aubergines and olives. It looked delicious.

It had been quite a long journey on the coach, and a number of the tourists headed for the loos before lunch. One of the women used the toilet and was seen walking out without washing her hands. She then proceeded to grab handfuls of food from the dishes and bowls, ignoring the cutlery and cocktail sticks that had been set out.

Bleurgh!