Here’s how to ensure an upset stomach doesn’t ruin your vacation this summer

Follow these simple safety tips to avoid any nasty tummy bugs while travelling this summer.

If you’re heading off on a vacation this summer, keep these food safety tips in mind to ensure an upset stomach doesn’t ruin your perfect holiday. Reduce your chances of illness by sticking to the following safe food and water habits:

Purchase bottled water that is sealed, and do not refill bottles with or drink tap water. (Shutterstock)

* Only eat food that is cooked and served hot. Avoid all food that is served at room temperature, including sauces and buffet offerings.

* Steer away from food from street vendors.

* Purchase bottled water that is sealed, and do not refill bottles with or drink tap water.

* Avoid ice made with tap water and if you’re unsure, ask for drinks without ice.

* Remember to keep your mouth closed while showering.

* Use bottled water to clean your teeth.

Reduce your chances of illness by sticking to the following safe food and water habits. (Shutterstock)

 Order hot drinks such as tea and coffee but make sure they are steaming hot.

* Make pasteurised dairy a rule. Avoid unpasteurized dairy, including ice cream.

* Ask for eggs to be hard-cooked and do not eat raw or soft-cooked (runny) eggs.

* Make sure you washed the fruits and vegetables in clean water or peeled them yourself first. If you have a choice, opt for peelable fruits such as bananas, oranges and avocados.

* Be wary of fruit salads and sliced fruits which may have been washed by someone else in tap water.

Avoid fruit salads and sliced fruits that may have been washed in tap water. (Shutterstock)

* Don’t take risks with meat and fish, and do not eat raw or undercooked (rare) meat or fish or shellfish.

* Avoid “bushmeat” (monkeys, bats, or other wild game) no matter how it is cooked.

* Carry a box of essential medicines. Talk to your doctor about taking prescription or over-the-counter drugs with you on your trip in case you get sick.

Talk to your doctor about taking prescription or over-the-counter drugs with you on your trip in case you get sick. (Shutterstock)

* Also ask your doctor about how to prevent traveller’s tummy. As a preventive measure, some doctors suggest taking bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol), which has been shown to decrease the likelihood of diarrhea. However, don’t take this medication for longer than three weeks, and don’t take it at all if you’re pregnant, allergic to aspirin, or on medications such as anticoagulants.