Obsessing over food poisoning when travelling

[Terribleatthis]

I love to travel and see new places, especially with my kids. But I get obsessively anxious about someone getting food poisoning and it being my fault.

for example, we are away in a European country at the moment, went to a place in Lonely Planet, the (thin) burger which was freshly grilled, was slightly pink inside - I am immediately convinced kids are going to be ill. Ruin my evening googling to see if anyone has commented about food poisoning from that place online (they haven’t) or if food poisoning is common in the place we are in (it’s not). I do not know how to get past this and stop it preying on my mind.

i also don’t know why I’m posting this, my husband is understanding that it’s anxiety but I feel like im ruining things by being like this….

Did you, or anyone significant to you, have food poisoning in the past? Or did you mum or grandmother have a fear of it?

No one has had it badly that I recall. My mum is very “Don’t drink the water, don’t have ice, don’t eat salad.”

Generally you'll get the squits for a few days. Not muxh to worry about.

Worth the risk for delicious mystery street meat if you ask me.

And that's where it's from. You hear that, possibly many times, and absorbed it as a truth; but it wasn't - it was just something your mum said (and possibly believed, as many of us did when we went abroad for the first time). Accept that food prep in all developed countries is safe and hygienic as your new truth and the fear will dissipate.

Never had food poisoning abroad as vegetarian!

I’ve never had food poisoning abroad as a meat eater. What your point @tillyandmilly ?

I am exactly the same OP. I feel real anxiety about getting food poisoning before traveling and often when there. Also anxious about it before important events. I really don’t know how this anxiety started and how to get over it.

We would love to travel but my daughter’s Coeliac disease means it’s very difficult. The tiniest crumb of gluten, or cross contamination from a knife, serving spoon or chopping board etc will mean she is very ill for 4-7 days (pretty much the whole holiday) with severe abdominal pain, migraines, vomiting, sweating and she has on occasion fainted.
Eating out is difficult enough in the Uk but it’s so much harder when there is a language barrier.
As a result my daughter has also developed a real anxiety about eating out in the UK.
When we go on holiday (which is mainly in the UK - we have only been abroad 3 times) we rarely eat out. We self cater and take our own chopping boards. We wipe down all surfaces on arrival. We thoroughly wash all pots and pans. We do a LOT of research before going on holiday (Uk and abroad) to find recommendations. Take packed lunches when we go out.
Perhaps you could take a similar approach OP? Self cater. Thoroughly wash and clean everything on arrival. Packed lunches. Then you can explore lots of new places without the anxiety of being made ill by food.

Op - I’m exactly the same. My heart goes out to you. I’ve been like it for years and have no idea where it comes from.
I’m panic I’m going to have food poisoning before any big event, that would then stop me attending the event.
I panic about food being hot enough, cooked enough, clean. Blah blah.

i also panic about hygiene of the waiting staff etc.

my ds returned from Cyprus with us, aged 5, and began having horrific diarrhoea. Ended up in hospital and tested positive for salmonella. Lasted 12 weeks. (Term off school). Environmental Health traced it back to the All Inclusive kids buffet. Tepid fishfingers/chicken nuggets. Left under a heat lamp for too long.

I therefore know where my fear stems from. I still go to AI hotels but only eat ‘safe foods’. I’ve also become vegetarian as I couldn’t eat meat after that point.

can you adopt an ‘in control’ policy. Sort your own food out. Or if eating out, choose safe options. Or send an undercooked burger back maybe. Always cut it in half first though to avoid the reheating scenario when they present a ‘fresh replacement’.

it’s so rubbish for you and I understand the anxiety and emotional exhaustion from this.

Thanks so much for all the kind comments! I’ve suffered with general anxiety in the past which is generally a lot better so to have this very specific issue is really frustrating but then again it’s specific enough that I can start to address it! I’m trying very hard to not let my kids see as I want them to experience the joy of travel! They all seem fine this morning 👍🏻😂

I will keep trying to address it (and maybe eat vegetarian this week) - but the world is a pretty amazing place and I am going to try and enjoy it!!

Op - absolutely enjoy every moment. Let your kids be free from fear too, which it looks like you’re managing brilliantly. It’s so tough. I feel your pain too.

I once had a serious bout of food poisoning. It lasted 3 weeks. I got it in this country. You can get food poisoning anywhere.

@Terribleatthis - if it's worth it (to you) then a couple of sessions of remedial hypnosis would knock this on the head.

I think she said this because meat tends to be a more risky item regarding food poisoning? Though actually rice is the biggest cause of food poisoning due to a bacteria that lives in it when not reheated correctly?

Why would you get it more than locals?

I am very similar OP. I have a feat of being ill or someone in the family being ill while we are away. I left all but the first bite of a burger similar to one you describe from a very nice restaurant in Austria. I know you are just as likely to get ill at home but my fear is getting it while away from home or when having to travel, . I have had it before in the UK and it was awful.
Sorry I don't know the answer but just to say I understand and sympathise.

Yep, @Lovemusic82 my experience has been with seeing someone suffering from the ill effects of rice being kept just warm

If it’s a red meat burger it won’t harm you just for being pink. I eat blue steaks.