11 Foods You Should Avoid on Vacation

Don't let foodborne illness or tummy troubles ruin your getaway! Avoid these foods and drinks to stay on the safe side.

Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases.

Raw oyster with ice and lemon on a dark background. Top view.
GoncharukMaks/Shutterstock

Raw shellfish

A seaside vacation may seem like an invitation to enjoy a platter of raw seafood—but don’t do be tempted. “Avoid raw oysters and all other raw shellfish, which can make you really sick and ruin your vacation,” says Elizabeth Ward, MS, RD, a registered dietitian in Boston. Raw and certain undercooked shellfish, such as clams and mussels, can present a risk of vibriosis—an infection that may result in death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). “Cooking shellfish properly destroys the germs that cause illness—so don’t avoid all seafood, just avoid the raw kind,” says Ward.

9 Food Safety Rules Every Host Should Know

Water glass in restaurant
Piyato/Shutterstock

Tap water

Water is water, right? Wrong. Water can contain microorganisms that are foreign to your gastrointestinal tract. In Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, there’s a greater risk of water being contaminated with bacteria, fecal matter, and parasites. “When traveling to regions of the world that are new to your gut, it’s best to stick with bottled water and filtered water,” says Niket Sonpal, MD, an assistant professor of clinical medicine at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine in New York City. Yes, this means you should brush your teeth with bottled water! And purchase bottled water from a store you trust, as dishonest vendors may sell tap water in bottles sealed with glue.

Here’s How Much Water You Really Need in a Day, with Nutritional Scientists’ Latest Wisdom

Traditional Latin American mexican salsa sauce
nadianb/Shutterstock

Raw produce

Unless a vegetable or fruit has a thick peel, such as a banana, you’ll want to avoid raw produce in locations where the water isn’t safe to drink. This means skipping salads and salsas made with uncooked tomatoes, onions, and/or peppers—and opting instead for cooked fruits and veggies. “While you’re curled over the toilet cursing the hot dog or seafood you ate, the accompanying lettuce or tomato could have been the real culprit,” says Sonpal.

Camembert cheese, blue cheese, parmesan, toasts, honey, walnuts and glass of wine on a dark background. Flat Lay.
vitals/Shutterstock

Unpasteurized dairy

When traveling internationally, it may seem like a real treat to stop by small, local farmers’ markets and purchase unpasteurized milk or cheese, but these are foods you probably want to skip, especially for children, or if you are pregnant or have a weakened immune system. “Unpasteurized cheese has been associated with pathogenic microorganisms like Listeria monocytogenes,” says Toby Amidor, MS, RD, author of Smart Meal Prep for Beginners. “Pregnant women who consume foods with the bacteria, especially in the third trimester, can experience miscarriage or stillbirth.” According to the CDC, listeriosis is a serious infection that affects an estimated 1,600 people per year; and about 260 die from it.

background with ice cubes
Pan Stock/Shutterstock

Ice

You might be better off drinking your beverages at room temperature in countries with unsafe drinking water, and obviously also avoid frozen or blended drinks made with ice. “Research shows that many people who develop traveler’s diarrhea from E. coli don’t contract it from the local water but from the ice that their drinks are chilled with,” says Sonpal. Traveler’s diarrhea affects 30 to 70% of travelers and can cause symptoms ranging from diarrhea to fever and vomiting.

Why You Should Think Twice About Ordering a Drink Over Ice

Buffet Dinner Restaurant Catering Food Concept
Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock

Buffet food

Buffets are a red flag for illness, so if you aren’t sure how safe a buffet is, skip it. “You should definitely be wary of dishes that are part of a buffet spread that has been sitting out for a questionable length of time at unsuitable temperatures,” says Nesochi Okeke-Igbokwe, MD, MS, an internal medicine physician in New York City. While high heat kills the germs that cause travelers’ diarrhea, food that’s thoroughly cooked but sits at a warm or room temperature may become re-contaminated. Hot foods should be kept at an internal temperature at 140° F or higher, cold foods should be kept at an internal temperature of 40° F or lower, and any perishable food items left at room temperature for more than two hours should be discarded, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Traveler’s Diarrhea, Constipation & More: Clever Tips to Manage, from Wellness Pros

many soft drink are on a tray
Darkkong/Shutterstock

Fountain drinks

Craving soda? Opt for a cola that’s sealed in a bottle or a can, since fountain drinks are typically created by combining flavored syrup with carbonated water. The carbonated water is likely from tap water and should be avoided in countries with unsafe drinking water. Same goes for fountain juices, typically created by mixing juice concentrate with tap water. If drinking from a can, use a straw to avoid direct contact with the surface.

Raw Organic Tuscan Melon Cantaloupe Cut into Pieces
Brent Hofacker/Shutterstock

Melon

“I try to avoid cut melon while traveling,” says Heather Steele, RD, a registered dietitian in Tulsa, OK. “The rind of melons can occasionally be exposed to E. Coli—and given enough time at the right temperature, that can allow the bacteria to grow to a level that makes us sick.” Indeed, contaminated melons have caused cases of Salmonella and norovirus, per a study in Foodborne Pathogens and Disease. 

Sushi Set: sushi and sushi rolls on black background, top view
grafvision/Shutterstock

Sushi

Raw animal products are often a gamble, especially in foreign countries. “While the United States has one of the safest food supplies in the world, traveling outside the country for vacation can land you in a country that isn’t so diligent about food safety,” says Joan Salge Blake, EdD, RDN, a clinical associate professor of nutrition at Boston University. “Avoid consuming uncooked meat, seafood, and poultry, all of which are grounds for foodborne pathogens that can send you to the local ER and ruin your vacation in one bite. Wait until you get home to eat the sushi unless you are eating it from a reputable restaurant that you’re confident is preparing the food safely.” When it comes to raw fish, research in Journal of Travel Medicine reveals that eating it is particularly risky in Southeast Asia because it may cause infection via bacteria or parasites.

The 7 Best Fish to Eat—and 5 to Never Eat

Fresh Alfalfa Sprouts On A Wooded Table
NatashaPhoto/Shutterstock

Alfalfa sprouts

If alfalfa sprouts are listed on the menu as part of your sandwich or dish at a restaurant, ask your waiter to leave them out, advises Cheryl Mussatto, MS, RD, a nutritionist in Osage City, KS. “Sprouts are difficult to clean thoroughly and are a perfect breeding ground for microbes such as Salmonella since they grow in warm, wet conditions.” Those sprouts can also harbor Listeria and E. Coli, which can multiply significantly during the vegetable’s sprouting process.

Modern barbecue crocodile tail eye fillet with roasted sweet potatoes pineapples and mango chili chutney as top view on a plate
hlphoto/Shutterstock

Bushmeat

You won’t know bushmeat from your neighborhood supermarket at home because it’s local wild game, such as bats, monkeys, gorillas, chimps, crocodiles, elephants, and even rodents from the forests and savannahs of African countries. “These may seem exotic to try in other countries, but they can be a source of diseases such as Ebola and SARS [Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome],” says Amidor. It also contributes to the further decline of animal species that are endangered.

Amy Gorin, MS, RDN
Amy is a nationally-recognized registered dietician nutritionist (RDN) and journalist who’s worked in digital and print media since 2006—and today, she has a media reach surpassing 3 billion. She regularly writes for The Healthy, Food Network, and Everyday Health and has been a featured expert for print, digital, and television outlets such as Women’s Health, US News, The Washington Post, People, CNN, and many more. Amy previously held editorial roles at Health, Weight Watchers, Parents, and American Baby magazines and has contributed to several nutrition books and cookbooks. In addition to her media work, Amy provides nutrition counseling to individuals, couples, groups, food companies, and corporations through her private practice, Plant Based with Amy.