Which island in the Caribbean is safest-food wise

[BonnieA]

I've been to Jamaica twice, no problems. Playa del Carmen twice, hubby sick both times, I got sick once. I don't think it was the all inclusive resorts, but on an excursion. Cozumel once, nobody got sick.
We are heading to Aruba in Sept, we hope for the best.

 

[Planogirl]

Just because someone took one to trip to a specific place and did or did not get sick, has no impact on whether or not you will get sick in the same place. Saying "Barbados is safe" is meaningless, if you go to barbados and get sick.

You can get food poisoning any where, even right in your hometown. Like most things travel related, a little common sense goes a long way. There are tons of places thoughout the caribbean that are very safe to eat. Any many times when people get sick while traveling it was nothing to do with unsafe food handling. It's often from the stress of travel, eating foods your body isn't used to, etc, etc...

I know people that live there. Of course you can get sick anywhere but I believe that the OP was asking about general cleanliness. If not, oops.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Yes, I know you can get food poisoning anywhere, even your own backyard.

But generally speaking, what island(s) do you think have cleaner water, better hygeine for food prep, etc.

Interesting re-reading the OP because it really is two separate issues - food and non-food sources of potential gastrointestinal illness/infection.

Both can happen anywhere. Norovirus outbreaks at WDW and on cruise ships are good examples of how GI illness can spread like wildfire even if you don't eat something that makes you sick. (Though originally, those germs came from a GI source somewhere.)

There are some things you can do to protect yourself and your family no matter where you are.

Practice good hand hygiene and keep your hands away from your face, nose and mouth. Teach your children to do this and call their attention to it if you see them doing it inadvertently.

Be careful what you touch in a bathroom (any bathroom, but especially public ones). The last thing you do in there should be using a paper towel to exit with freshly washed hands protected. Things like latches in stalls, knobs on sinks, and exit door knobs are saturated with germs as people touch these after wiping and some don't wash afterwards, and whether they're ever or thoroughly cleaned is sketchy at best. Aerosolization occurs when toilets flush so there germs are on most surfaces in a bathroom. (And recent studies on Norovirus type infections have confirmed aerosolization as a source of transmission when previously it was thought to be mainly via hand to mouth.)

Do not eat undercooked meat. And be aware of where you eat - food should ideally be washed and prepared properly, so stick to the better food establishments. (Though food-borne illness can occur even when proper washing and food prep happens. However your chances of getting sick statistically are probably less at places that follow proper guidelines.)

Fruit and produce are as dangerous as meat as generally there is no "kill step" where it's heated to kill bacteria that may have contaminated it (either from being washed with contaminated water or cut up on a contaminated surface, etc.). Be careful with these. (Momtobrent had the right idea here.) Lots and lots of infections here in the US with things like sprouts, cantelope, bagged salad, etc.

I haven't traveled much internationally so I can't speak to the water issue.

 

[Dopey Sharon]

We've been to Punta Cana twice. Both times, we didn't drink the water from the faucet. They give you bottled water in the rooms to drink. I was worried that the ice cubes would upset our stomachs, but they didn't. Also wasn't sure how the food that was rinsed in the water would affect us, we were fine.

Aruba has one of the best saltwater desalination plants in the world.

We've also been to The Bahamas for a week, no problems, Puerto Rico for a week, no problems.

I think the issues people have with going to islands in the Caribbean is with the water, not the food. Most all-inclusive resorts have bottled water available. If you stick with that, you should be fine.

 

[minijeanie]

I have been to Bahamas, Martinique, St Barts, Puerto Rico, Mexico and Jamaica. I have not gotten sick in any of those places. I am planning a trip to Punta Cana and have heard mixed reviews on what and what not to eat.

I found the best food in Mexico but that is my personal preference.
I am now taking acidopholus for past two weeks to help with possible bacteria.

My advice is to pick the place you want to go in that is in your budget and that you want to visit. As others have said you can get sick anywhere on any island.

 

[ckay87]

Just spent a week in Puerto Rico and felt all around safe food-wise, crime-wise, etc.