Whilst going abroad on holiday it is vital to remember that your baby will be more vulnerable to the effects of food poisoning than any other age group. Because babies have weak immune systems they are susceptible to contracting food poisoning, such as salmonella, which can easily invade the blood system and become life threatening.
Following the tips below will help you to protect yourself and your baby against the effects of food poisoning, making sure that you both enjoy your holiday to its full potential.
 Look around, if the place where you are going to eat looks dirty, poorly maintained, has rubbish lying around or has evidence of pests, then the areas you can not see will be much worse. When it comes to the kitchen this is unacceptable and eating food prepared in these conditions is asking for food poisoning.
Do not accept undercooked foods. Cooking is one of the main methods of killing off any harmful bacteria that may be present in food and if this is not done properly then there is a risk that you and your baby could become seriously ill.
Temperature control is vitally important when preventing food poisoning bacteria from multiplying. Food must be hot to avoid the optimal growth range for bacteria which are normally kept to an absolute minimum at higher temperatures. So if it comes to you warm, send it back.
Waterborne micro-organisms can cause severe illness in those not used to them. Avoiding water may seem a simple option however you should be aware that water is also a problem when provided in less obvious forms. The main things to avoid in areas where the water quality is suspect is the inclusion of ice in drinks and also salads that would have been washed in water.
Be wary of food hygiene beyond the walls of the hotel. The standards of hygiene can be far from healthy in places such as street vendors or when on excursions. Avoid eating in places where you can not judge the conditions in which the food is prepared.
Tips by CheckSafetyFirst
September 2006
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Top Tips for Travelling With Children
