Take True Citrus on Your Overseas Vacation

“My family frequently travels and we use True Lime in our beer instead of local produce so that we don’t risk picking up foreign parasites in locally grown (or watered) fruit. We also add True Lemon to our bottled water to boost our immunity when we are in other countries.” Rhonda S., Gales Ferry, CT

Each year around ten million overseas travelers succumb to diarrhea and other illnesses caused by bacteria, viruses, and parasitic bugs in local water and food, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  You can reduce your chances of falling ill by using caution in drinking and eating.

How to drink water safely when you’re overseas

First, visit the CDC's Travelers' Health Web site (cdc.gov/travel) and check the drinking water quality in the country you plan to visit.  High-risk areas are China, Egypt, Hungary, Malaysia, Mexico, Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Turkey, and Ukraine.

Once you’ve arrived, avoid drinking from the faucet. Use bottled or treated water for brushing teeth, and keep your mouth closed when showering.  And make sure that bottled water you’re drinking is not just any bottled water. Fine hotels have been caught filling bottles from a tap, and even bottles from a bottling company may be unsafe. NSF International, which certifies the safety of waters sold around the world, says to look for bottles with an International Bottled Water Association mark and to check its website, nsf.org/certified/BWPI, for brands that meet IBWA standards.

If no bottled water is available, then as a last resort, use the hot faucet water instead of cold, since at least some bacteria and bugs will be killed by the high temperature.

Caution is also needed for the raw fruit that accompanies food and drinks.

Fruits and vegetables in many countries are fine to eat, but if you want to be very safe, eat only peeled fruit and well-cooked produce.  And when eating in more “colorful” locations, it’s smart to check the tables and eating utensils to see if the place cares about cleanliness.  Even in the United States, fruit pieces can cause sickness.  One study showed that 70 percent of a restaurant’s lemon wedges were contaminated with disease-causing bacteria.

Take True Citrus along on your trip to flavor bottled water and add to beverages

To add peace of mind to your overseas journey, pack all-natural True Citrus to improve the taste of the bottled water you’ll be drinking, and to add to beverages in place of fruit raw wedges. Preventing sickness that could spoil your vacation may be as easy as including a few extra packets in your suitcase.

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