(Source: rlisu.wordpress.com)

As football fever continues to sweep the world, it would appear that the organisers have scored an own goal.  Apparently, ninety World Cup volunteers have contracted food poisoning after eating breakfast at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit.

So, this story has inspired me to come up with a food poisoning first aid kit with a list of useful items to pack in case you become ill while at the World Cup or on your annual holiday:

Water – One of the most important things to consume when you have food poisoning. As a lot of fluid is usually lost from vomiting and diarrhoea, drink lots of water to avoid dehydration.

Rehydration salts – For more vulnerable sufferers of hydration, rehydration salts can be bought in sachets from pharmacies. These can be dissolved in water and help to replace salt, glucose and other important minerals that your body loses through dehydration. However, before taking these salts, it’s important to consult your pharmacist or GP.

Medicine – Tablets such as Imodium only slow down rather than stop movement in the intestines and should be avoided if possible. If you are absolutely desperate, this type of treatment should only be taken by adults.

Insurance – Don’t forget to buy travel insurance. Our own research has shown that one in ten consumers are putting themselves at risk by not getting travel cover. With the average medical insurance claim in the region of £2,500, it’s definitely worth spending £20 on a basic policy.

(Source: concierge.com)

Often, half the battle on holiday is finding somewhere nice to eat. Exploring new cultures and food can be exciting, but  the consequences of making the wrong choice can be far from enjoyable. This week I read a blog on Telegraph.co.uk which gave advice on how to eat well while on holiday. Here is a selection of tips:

- Don’t rely solely on personal recommendations, especially from hotel staff and reps who can be influenced by local restaurants.

- Always look for locals, it’s a good sign that a restaurant is good if the locals eat there.

- Find a restaurant that’s fully-booked and book a table for the following evening.

- Stay away from restaurants that employ people to entice you into their restaurant. Make your own mind up.

- Analyse the menu, any food being sold out of season should sound alarm bells.

- Check the wine list, a selection of wines from local producers is a good sign that the chef is concerned with combining regional cuisine with regional wine.

- The closer you are to the tourist hotspots, the more likely you are to be served bland, international food.

These tips are all good, but one key piece of advice that I would also add is check the restaurant looks clean. If the restaurant looks a bit grubby in the dining area, it’s probably a sign that the kitchen is just as bad, if not worse. Eating out at a touristy restaurant might be an unadventurous experience, but it’s better than spending some of your holiday laid up in bed with food poisoning.

(Source: The Sun)

We have been warning people on the dangers of food poisoning for many years and particularly trying to raise awareness of the types of people who are more susceptible such as the elderly, children and people on slow release medication. Finally, there’s a survey which supports our cry.

A study of 34,000 travellers confirmed that children are more likely than adults to suffer from skin complaints, respiratory infections and diarrhoea caused by food poisoning, with more children visiting hospitals abroad than adults. The study shows that 14 per cent of children ended up in the hospital for illnesses and injuries while on holiday compared to 10 per cent of adults.

Parents generally book their holidays based on facilities and local attractions which will keep their children entertained, like the number of swimming pools, the distance to the nearest beach and local waterparks. While this is important, parents must also think about the hygiene standards of the resort they are staying at. Children’s immune systems aren’t as strong as adults’ and as a result food poisoning will hit them much harder.

Being more vigilant of the potential risks means that parents can enjoy their holiday, safe in the knowledge that the only tears will be from the children not wanting to go home.

(Source: foxnews.com)

Back in August last year, I commented on the tragic story of a mother and her three year old daughter becoming seriously ill after contracting E-coli at a local fish and chip shop. This week in response to 2005’s outbreak of E-coli across schools in South Wales, resulting in the death of five year old Mason Jones, a consumer watchdog wants more funding to stop a similar E-coli outbreak from striking again.

Consumer Focus Wales has called for at least £2.5m to be spent on food safety to enforce European food hygiene legislation. This comes following a public inquiry into the outbreak which found that more still needed to be done and subsequently made 24 recommendations to local councils in the area.

I am all in favour of this proposal, but it is a massive shame that it has taken this tragedy to open the eyes of local councils to the dangers of food poisoning. E- coli isn’t like a virus that you can find a cure for; it is always going to be around. So it is important that consumers, food suppliers and authorities understand the principles of good food hygiene and are more alert to the dangers of not following them.

Jay Rayner is undeniably a very influential man in food. He is an author, television personality and food critic at The Guardian whose reviews can make or break a restaurant. As you can tell I am a bit of a fan.

But, I will admit that I was slightly disappointed when I read his latest piece. In the article he talks about his favourite eating experiences being in establishments which he himself describes as “scuzzy”. While the piece does mention the importance of food hygiene, he plays down the risk of food poisoning by saying:

“I work on the assumption that food – and, by association, the restaurants that serve it  – has to be trying bloody hard to kill you. Eating is not something you need insurance for. So denying yourself an edible pleasure just because you couldn’t safely remove someone’s appendix in the room in which it was prepared, seems just plain foolish, not to mention self-defeating.”

It is not my aim to scare people away from trying new foods or restaurants because you might get food poisoning. But I do feel that Mr Rayner has an element of responsibility to highlight the potential threats of it by advising people on how to protect themselves and not just take an ‘eat anything and hope you’ll be OK’ approach.

So your bags are packed for a week in the sun, but despite knowing all the rules (never eat undercooked meat, only eat food which is hot all the way through, etc) you are worried about getting a dicky tummy while you are away.

Well, a holiday in the sun could be the answer to your worries. Scientists have discovered that vitamin D, which is made when our skin is exposed to sunlight, plays a crucial role in activating white blood cells that help fight disease – including food poisoning and the flu.

Apparently, half the British population is low in the “sunshine vitamin” by the time winter ends. So if you are feeling a little peaky, a fortnight in the sun could be just what the doctor ordered – but don’t forget the sun tan lotion.

(Source: dreamstreetmarketingblog.com)

Check Safety First has been trying to educate people on the importance of holiday health and safety for over 20 years, but it doesn’t appear to be sinking in. According to research by Bupa Travel, the biggest holiday worry for people is losing their luggage. Contracting an illness only came fourth:

1. Your airline losing your luggage

2. Losing your wallet or purse

3. Being robbed

4. Becoming ill

5. Poor hotels

6. Terrorist attacks

7. Getting injured

8. Having to be treated at a foreign hospital

9. Bad weather

10. Not being able to speak the local language

I can’t believe that people value their possessions over their own wellbeing. The fact is that people are more likely to become ill or pick up an injury on holiday than they are to lose a suitcase, wallet or purse. Contracting food poisoning can ruin the whole holiday, whereas losing a bag can only spoil a couple of days.

People have to be more aware of the potential problems that can arise on holiday, such as food poisoning. Given the choice, I’d take losing my luggage over getting ill and having my holiday spoilt any day.

(Source:  www.teamsugar.com)

Unfortunately it looks like another celebrity has come down with food poisoning, this time model Jodie Kidd was taken to a Nepalese hospital with stomach cramps shortly after filming a BBC documentary.

Those of us who travel to countries like Nepal shouldn’t forget that standards of hygiene are generally low and the risk of food contamination is extremely high, mostly due to the sheer volume of water-borne viruses.

So, I’ve compiled some top tips for those of you thinking of travelling to Nepal in the near future:

1- Research what vaccinations you need and make sure you have them.
2- Don’t drink tap water or use it to clean your teeth.
3- Avoid eating food from street sellers as it’s probably not been prepared with treated water.
4- Nepal boasts a number of tempting Chinese, Japanese, Thai and Nepalese food outlets, just make sure the one you choose to eat at is clean and avoid peeled fruits.
5- Finally, should you need to see a doctor, medical facilities are limited and probably expensive, so make sure you take out sufficient travel insurance.

Both Jodie’s and Chipmunk’s cases of food poisoning just show that anyone, regardless of their celeb status and what country they’re staying in, can be susceptible to food poisoning if they’re not sensible about what they eat.

Jodie – we wish you a speedy recovery.

Teenage pop star Chipmunk has been unfortunate enough to catch food poisoning while on holiday in Jamaica. The singer was taking a much needed break ahead of his UK tour when he became unwell.

But don’t fear all you teeny boppers. Chipmunk is currently recovering well in a Jamaican hospital.

In light of Chipmunk’s misfortunes, I’d like to reiterate the importance of food hygiene on holiday with five useful tips to avoid food poisoning:

1. Eat in a clean environment. Whether you are staying in a 5-star hotel or backpacking in a hostel, if the place is poorly maintained or has evidence of pests in public areas then the parts you can’t see will probably be much worse.  For the sake of your holiday, it’s important not to compromise.

2. Make sure that you are the only thing that is pink and don’t accept undercooked foods.

3. Ensure that food is served hot not warm.  Your hotel may serve up a fantastic buffet with all the trimmings, but don’t feel you have to tuck into the food if it looks like it’s been left out for a while.

4. If the water quality in the area is suspect, be wary of washed salads and iced drinks. That Margarita on the beach may be a tempting offer, but waterborne bacteria can cause severe illnesses.

5. Outside the hotel, be careful of food in places where hygienic conditions are poor. Exploring a busy market or eating out to experience the authenticity of a destination may be exciting, but if that is followed by a visit to the local chemist or hospital then a holiday can be ruined.

(Source: www.grouptravelorganiser.com)

The opening of the new Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park has really got me into the Christmas mood today.  The first week of December marks the start of the Christmas market season, reminding us, in case we hadn’t already realised, that Christmas is only a few weeks away.

Many of us at this time of year are tempted to pack our suitcases and visit the traditional German Christmas markets.  Don’t get me wrong, these markets are very enjoyable, but I’m pleased to see that a large Christmas market, together with a traditional funfair, is open for those who’d prefer to stay closer to home.

However, one thing that concerns me is the number of people who are expected to visit the Winter Wonderland in the next few weeks, who will be tucking into a range of foods including sausages and hog roasts.

My word of advice to anyone eating at this or any Christmas market in December is, enjoy yourself, but make sure any food you buy is thoroughly cooked – food poisoning will seriously hamper your Christmas shopping.