Holiday trip in Bali is memorable when you can enjoy every local food in there. Traveler mostly enjoys the local foods, but foods with bad handling, unhygienic food component, might get them Bali belly.

Gastrointestinal problem often occur to traveler in Bali when they consume contaminated food and beverages. The risk is not limited to one particular type of cuisine. Inappropriate handling and non-hygienic food processing can lead to food poisoning. You have to aware on which food needs extra care and attention before consuming. You do not necessarily have to avoid local food altogether.

High-Risk Foods and Drinks

Some cuisine needs your detailed examination because in some cases they can contaminate before you eat that.

Raw Vegetables or Salad

Raw leafy vegetables and other uncooked produce can carry microorganisms if they have been washed with contaminated water.

The problem is not necessarily the vegetable itself. The concern is often what happens during preparation. Once contaminated water comes into contact with food that will not be cooked, there is no later cooking step to reduce the microbial risk. It is better to order a freshly cooked menu to avoid water contamination.

Ice and Tap Water

You are surely being attentive to not drink tap water. However, tap water still might indirectly consume through ice, rinsed plate, and so on.

Ice cubes or crushed ice can therefore become an unexpected source of exposure if the water used to produce them was not properly treated.

A simple travel habit is to choose:

• Factory-sealed bottled water
• Sealed canned or bottled beverages
• Drinks prepared with verified safe ice
• Hot beverages made with properly treated water

It is also sensible to avoid drinking directly from a tap unless you have confirmed that the water is safe for consumption.

Unpeeled Fruits

Bali’s tropical fruit is one of the highlights of visiting the island. Be careful when you find a fruit that displayed in a table without cover in a long time. If the outside of the fruit, knife, cutting board, or preparation surface is contaminated, microorganisms can potentially be transferred to the edible portion.

It is better to choose the whole fruit unpeeling. This gives you more control over the preparation process.

Raw Seafood or Under-cooked

It is tricky to cook seafood as it needs measured temperature. Raw or not well cooked seafood might carry the microorganism that can cause digestive problem.

Make sure your seafood is:

• Fully cooked
• Properly hot
• Always refrigerated
• Well stored

Make sure that the seafood is not only fresh but well handled.

Meats and Poultry Not well-Cooked

Do not eat your beef or chicken if it is only brown outside but red inside. This condition is high risk in contamination with the eat utensil.

The meat must be properly cooked and throughout. Poultry must be given more attention in cooking since it can cause a food poisoning for some people.

Buffets and Food Left Out

The storage condition and temperature is very important to keep the buffet edible. Room temperature can cause the bacteria appears, so make sure that you keep in a proper place. This condition is relevant for hot or cold food. Just choose the freshly cooked menu and still hot.

Good Alternatives

Enjoy Bali’s cuisine during your trip with these tips:

Hot Cooked Foods

Harmful microorganism will vanished when the food cooked in a high temperature, such as:

Hot rice

Fresh soups

Stir-fried vegetables

Chicken cooked thoroughly

Noodle that prepared freshly

Hot meals

You can choose a busy food stall as it is indicate that the food ingredient is good and freshly cooked.

Peeled Fruits

Bananas and papayas are convenient examples. It is important to keep the fruit surface is safe from the dirty surfaces or water contamination.

Bottled Drinks

Bottled drink is the safer option than tap water. You just need to make sure that the seal is in good condition. Maybe you cannot decide whether the water or the ice is contaminating, so choose the bottled water is a good choice.

Bali Belly Strikes: What to Do?

If you experience a severe fluid loss, try to keep hydrated. You can drink small amount but frequently to be safe.

When you feel like your condition is not getting better or even worse, you must consider to take a medical treatment.

You need to evaluate the illness because stomach problem is not simply a Bali Belly. It could be a serious gastrointestinal problem, so please evaluate carefully.

Recover and Stay Hydrated

Consuming natural and plain water for rehydration is the safest way. You cannot just wait the symptom disappear. Please meet a doctor if you keep vomiting and unconscious.

Choose home-service treatment if you will not bother to leave your hotel. Home-service in Bali is so professional and medical wise.

Get Support without Leaving Your Accommodation

If digestive symptoms leave you feeling depleted during a Bali holiday, Fastdrip Bali provides health infusion services with a home-service approach. Fastdrip Bali team will visit your place and you can enjoy the simple yet professional treatment.

The treatment can be done in your desired location and travel far away in weak condition is not necessary.

You can have a consultation to get a more personalized treatment according to your needs and specific conditions, so there will be no side effect.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is street food safe to eat in Bali?

Street food is not automatically unsafe. As long as it is hygiene, good prepared, and freshly cooked, that is great.

Can ice cause Bali Belly?

Yes. You might feel a digestive problem after consuming ice which made from a tap water that might contain microorganism.

What fruit is safer to eat in Bali?

Whole fruits that you can peel yourself are a practical option.

What to do when experiencing Bali Belly?

If your conditions worsen, try to keep hydrate and seek medical treatment. Home-service healthcare may also be an option when appropriate.