How is the food safety in China?

[WClayton]

My DW and I are planning a 2011 ABD trip to China. Has anyone had any problems with the food safety on these trips. We are slightly more cautious as we have recently returned from Egypt with upset stomachs. We were very careful in what we ate and drank as well as rigourous hygeine and still got sick. We firmly believe it was something we ate.

Any advice and/or experience is appreciated.

 

[figmentfan2009]

Drink bottled water. Don't brush your teeth in the sink water. Only drink the water that Disney tells you is safe unless you buy brand name bottled water in a store or from a vendor.

Maybe cliche... but the water was the only thing in China that seemed to leave anything to be desired and we were warned about it. If you want to use the water from the sink... there is a WICKED FAST tea pot that makes way hot water (boiling in less than 2 min) that should be fine.

We honestly didn't have any issues and I forgot and brushed my teeth once with tap water.

We had the MOST marvelous tea ceremony in a tea shop just down a side street... not the way pretty and fancy tea ceremony you get the first night... it was an "ordinary people" tea ceremony and it was one of the most treasured things I brought home from the trip... the memory of that ceremony... I can get sick from eating in central texas and I didn't have a single problem. We went to the night market and ate bugs and had the local warm nasty tasting yogurt from street vendors... I didn't have any tummy issues the whole trip... I didn't eat the duck face or the fish face... by my DS did.... go... enjoy... you shouldn't have any problems.

 

[TaiTai1]

We have not yet taken the ABD China trip, so your best info will come from those who have already done the trip. However, we lived in China for a year, and we can say that it is common for our Western GI systems to "get a bug" from what we eat and drink over there. I recommend talking with your physician and taking an antibiotic with you in case you need it. Better to have it on hand and take care of the problem quickly so you can continue to enjoy your trip. ENJOY all the wonderful new foods and experiences, just be prepared.

 

[TaiTai1]

In addition, I would avoid all salads because they are washed in local water. That was often a downfall for me. Most of the local Chinese food is cooked, so you are usually safe with that.

 

[figmentfan2009]

She's right... go to the doc and make sure you are good on shots (they wanted us to get HEP a... and since I have been diagnosed with RA since the China trip, but had it then... I'm glad in rhetrospect that I did...) and they gave me a script for meds for tummy yukkies for each of us... JUST in case. We never did use it, but I took pepto and a kiddo on the trip made use of it... not my kiddo... just a sweety on the trip

 

[LTFrench]

And don't forget ice is generally made from local water. Not that you will get much ice, but, if you think you want a mixed drink with ice, you might want to rethink it....

 

[Pakey]

I just got back from 2 weeks in China (not through a tour) and I am extra careful because I have a low immune system due to cancer. I ate all of my meals at local places and stalls, probably not places Americans would be frequenting. I grazed on braised cow hoof, yak tripe, duck webs, etc.

Stay away from fresh vegetables and fruit unless it's something like watermelon where you aren't going to eat the rind.

Use bottled water.

I brushed my teeth with tap water and didn't have any issues but I wasn't swallowing any.

Enjoy your visit. I'm off to Egypt later this year so I hope I stay as healthy as I did in China.

 

[sunshine74]

I also have not done ABD, but spent 6 months in China on a work assignment. I would agree with everything here so far. Stick with bottled water, fully cooked food and you should overall have few or only minor problems. In all honesty, if you stick with the planned itinerary, I'm sure that Disney does very good screening for food quality/western cleanliness/etc...

All that said, in the interest of sharing, I will say the first month I was there I did have some "GI issues" while adjusting. I found it was worse when I had just eaten the local airline's food, so I learned to avoid eating on planes! It was never severe enough to slow me down, but did provide a nice short-term weight-loss effect (if that was not TMI....) I did bring antibiotics with me - my doc gave me Cipro - but during the entire 6 months, I only took it once.

I encourage anyone who will listen to visit China, you should definitely not let the food fears stop you from going. My experiences in there are my most treasured memories, it was such an amazing experience to be immersed in a culture so different from mid-western USA!

 

[sunshine74]

BTW TaiTai1.... I LOVE your username!

 

[bdoyledimou]

All that said, in the interest of sharing, I will say the first month I was there I did have some "GI issues" while adjusting. I found it was worse when I had just eaten the local airline's food, so I learned to avoid eating on planes!

I agree! I spent 4 years travelling between Canada, South America, Europe and Asia. When in Asia (Hong Kong and Bangkok for the most part) I ate at the local places, most of the time not even recognizing what i was eating, and not once did i get sick.. then on the final leg of the flight home (from Vancouver to Toronto) i came down with the worst case of food poisen. It was so bad by the time i got to Toronto i had to get checked by a doctor before they let us off the plane (the 2 hour wait really ticked off the other passengers )

 

[WDWFWfan]

Typical advice for traveling to most other countries (some of this has been mentioned).

• Drink only bottled water
• Make sure the bottled water is sealed (sometimes they will refill empty bottles with tap water)
• Don't drink bottled water if it is floating in an ice bucket (I'm told the water can actually seep under the lid)
• If you order a soda, NO ICE
• Don't open your mouth in the shower
• Don't rinse your toothbrush with tap water
• Don't eat any fruit that doesn't have a peelable skin (like an apple, grape, etc.)
• Don't eat anything uncooked...especially salads
• Know food dangers specific to the country. For example, while watermelon is 'safe' due to it's thick skin, in one country I was in (South Asia) a couple of years ago, you did not eat the watermelon. There watermelon was sold by the pound so people would inject it with tap water to make it weigh more.

Just be careful and never assume that anything is 'safe.' Or else you will not enjoy your vacation very much.

 

[bentos]

I love chinese food! their food is so unique tasting. very oriental and yummy

 

[kennythepirate]

On Day 5 in China and I can tell you that the food is perfectly safe that is recommended by Disney. They think of EVERYTHING. Any time you are eating the provided meals they even guarantee the ice is safe to consume.

 

[TaiTai1]

BTW TaiTai1.... I LOVE your username!

Thanks for noticing! Only a local would know what that means.

Very good words of wisdom from all. And I will add that I've also gotten sick at least 2 times on those long flights from eating the salads on THE PLANE! Now I don't eat any salad on any flight. Not worth taking the chance.

 

[disneyphx]

I am wondering about the range of choices? We are going with our 5 year old who although not a picky eater so far does not like any 'Chinese' food. I am wondering how many granola bars etc to bring.
What proportion of meals have 'Western' choices?

 

[incredibrent]

Food in China has always scared me!

 

[sayhello]

Food in China has always scared me!

What is it about the food that scares you? How many times have you been to China? Were there any foods you *did* enjoy?

Sayhello

 

[smep013]

All of the food that is part of the adventure is fine.

If you venture off on your own, use your common sense before you eat items (like from street vendors, etc).

All of the hotels provide bottled water free of charge for teeth brushing and drinking.

Disney does not steer your wrong.