A Guide To Safe Street Food

Travelers, foodies, street food connoisseurs — listen up. We’re all for trying local cuisine and street food, but there are a few things we’ve learned the hard way. Let's talk about what’s safe to eat and what might come back to bite you.

From personal experience, one of our team members unknowingly took a bite of undercooked chicken. It turns out, chasing it with alcohol did little to sterilize the contamination. The result? Let’s just say it wasn’t the kind of culture shock anyone was hoping for.

That’s why we’re serving up this guide to safe street eats, common culprits, and best practices if things go south. Because at the end of the day, you want less sh*ts and more giggles.

HOW TO IDENTIFY SKETCHY STREET FOOD

There are a few tells when it comes to food gone bad. For example, if food has been sitting out for a long period of time, smells funky, or is in unhygienic conditions. However, it's not always straightforward. We go deeper into tips for finding safe street food and how to prevent the dreaded traveler's diarrhea.

Should you eat street food?
Trying street food is a great way to experience a culture and connect with locals. If you know what to look for and what to avoid, you can minimize the risk of food poisoning, also known as traveler’s diarrhea. Ultimately, do your research and trust your gut.

FINDING LAST-MINUTE FLIGHTS

✓ There’s a line of people waiting for food - Busy stalls mean high turnover and fresher food

✓ Locals are eating there

✓ Food prep + cooking is visible

✓ Food is fresh off the heat

✓ Vendors aren’t handling money and food together

✓ Raw and cooked food are kept separately

✓ The food smells fresh

✓ Surfaces and cooking utensils look clean and sanitary

meat skewers on the grill at a street food stall

STREET FOOD 101

Stick to food that’s cooked, served hot and fresh
Avoid unpeeled fruit
Drink bottled or filtered water (skip the ice)
Wash or sanitize hands before eating
Choose busy stalls with high food turnover
Be cautious with seafood unless you know it’s fresh and well-cooked
Avoid uncooked, raw vegetables unless you trust the place
Make sure packaging is sealed, such as water bottle lids, food packaging, etc.

COMMON CULPRITS OF FOOD POISONING

Travel illnesses often come in the form of salmonella, E. coli, gastrointestinal infection, or parasites. While this all sounds scary, our aim is not to deter you from being adventurous on your travels. We're merely sharing knowledge to help you make informed decisions. Dodge food poisoning during your next trip and thank us later.

The following are common culprits to avoid on your travels:

Raw vegetables washed in contaminated water
Uncooked or raw meat
Unpasteurized dairy products
Unsanitary cooking conditions or poor hygiene

Common misconception:
Many people believe that meat is less safe than vegetables. In reality, when meat is fully cooked through and eaten fresh, you’re less likely to get sick. Uncooked vegetables can become contaminated if they're washed with unfiltered water. Additionally, there’s risk of produce coming into contact with bacteria from raw meat, unclean surfaces, etc.

TRAVEL PRECAUTIONS

It never hurts to pack for the unknown. If you get hit with food poisoning or traveler’s diarrhea, here’s what you should have on you:

Electrolytes or rehydrations salts
Activated charcoal capsules
Probiotics
Hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes
Anti-diarrheal meds
Waterproof Travel Canister - 100ML
Waterproof Travel Canister - 40ML
Waterproof Pill Canister
Water filter such as Life Straw (can be used for water, liquids, and iced drinks)

HOT TIP:

Travel with your own snacks so you don’t find yourself in a desperate situation. When you’re hungry, you’re more likely to make rash decisions about food, which can cost you later. Matador’s Waterproof Travel Canister - 100ML is great for travel snacks like nuts, trail mix, etc.

We recommend the Waterproof Travel Canister - 40ML or Waterproof Pill Canister for vitamins, medication, and pills.