Tulsi joins the party of Common Sense

[Soboringtochooseaname]

Sick again because of uncooked vegetables, does it happen to you often ?

Street stalls or 5* restaurants do not use drinking water, crazy !

Hello,

It happened again, sick after eating veg coming with Somtam, so I think it's the last time eating uncoooked veg outside !

Do you know that noone here cleans vegetable with drinking water and that many street food stalls don't even use the special powder (or liquid thaat looks like the one to wash the dishes) to clean them ? Five stars hotels restaurants must use it most of the time, but the lanst rincing is not done with drinking water, so if you eat wet veg you can be sick anyway.

I would like to know if many of you have been sick when eating uncooked veg outside ?

And when you poop + throw out at the same time, what do you usually do ?

I usually wait 1 or 2 days to try to feel better naturally, but then if I am still sick I take antibiotics like Norfloxacin to kll bacteria, but i don't know if it's thhe best solution (don't mind taking antibiotics and don't listen to "specialists" saying that we should not take antibiotics too easily: we are eating antibiotics with ALL the meat we eat, and especially with porks that are not given antibiotics only when they are sick, but EVERYDAY and ALWAYS to prevent diseases).

So what is your solution to stop pooping and vomiting ? :-)

Thanks for help, I have to go to toilet again now :-)

[bkkjames]

Stop eating somtam. Period.

[Moonrakers]

In 10 years plus i have been sick from food only once, and that was seafood.

[Richard4849]

You must have a weak system. In almost 25 years I can only remember once or twice having a Bangkok belly. And I eat it all.

[sinbin]

What makes the OP assume that it was the vegitables ? I've been here 6 years and only had food poisoning once.

[lopburi3]

He does not advise where he is located but Bangkok water from the tap is safe for drinking and has been so for decades. There is no reason to use bottled water.

[kerryk]

Stop eating somtam. Period.

If the veggies don't get you the rotten crabs will. I have always thought it was the crabs in somtom.

[Soboringtochooseaname]

Tap water is ok but pipes to bring it to you are 100 years old, so of course water arrived poisoned.

I might have a weak system but being sick doesn't happen more than few times a year when eating veg almost everyday.

I wonder if the poisoning could come from pesticides ?

[sinbin]

You could be correct to some degree.

<H2>Pesticide levels pose threat to Thai vegetable exports

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/218184/pesticide-levels-pose-threat-to-thai-vegetable-exports</H2>

[thaicbr]

Tap water is ok but pipes to bring it to you are 100 years old, so of course water arrived poisoned.

I might have a weak system but being sick doesn't happen more than few times a year when eating veg almost everyday.

I wonder if the poisoning could come from pesticides ?

i wouldn't have thought 100 years old.. most of bangkok is what 40-50 years old at most. Here's a map from the 1900's

PS.. don't eat somtam... no bad stomache

Edited September 4, 2011 by thaicbr

[lopburi3]

Tap water is ok but pipes to bring it to you are 100 years old, so of course water arrived poisoned.

I might have a weak system but being sick doesn't happen more than few times a year when eating veg almost everyday.

I wonder if the poisoning could come from pesticides ?

Perhaps in London or New York but in Bangkok most have been replaced or installed within the last 30 years at most. And 30 years ago the city water from taps at US Embassy was testing cleaner than bottled water.

[Moonrakers]

Bangkok tap water is quite safe to drink, but man does it taste like &lt;deleted&gt;.

[zzaa09]

Nope. I'm immune to these things.

Strong, not weak.

[zzaa09]

ed

Edited September 4, 2011 by zzaa09

[Darrel]

"Sick again because of uncooked vegetables, does it happen to you often ?"

Never.

The only thing that ever gets me is when they go completely overboard on the amount of chilli in somtam (which I love). And even that only happens a few times a year.

I know when I taste it that I'm going to be sorry the next day, but it never stops me from emptying the dish.

Oh, and I drink tap water also, once it's been through one of those reverse osmosis filter machines. Never done me any harm.

Some people worry too much.

[daoyai]

Maybe the overuse of antibiotics by the op has killed the digestive bacteria in his gut ? I eat somtam 3-4 times aweek, but leave out the rotten stuff, just the veggies. Haven't gotten (food) sick in years.

[bkkjames]

Just cut out the raw veggies and see if you still get sick.

[SomTumTiger]

Never had a problem - you just have weak genes.

[Spoonman]

I use tap water at home with no ill effects, as for the pooping and vomiting there no real way to stop it and its better out then in but when I have both ends going I usually aim my ass into the shower whilst throwing up into the toilet.

[DP25]

Stay away from somtam if your delicate constitution can't handle it

[aneliane]

Never been sick .... you must be quite delicate,

one suggestion would be to favor stalls where veggies are / have been boiled or deep fried.

for salads, fresh spring rolls i like it when

- they have everything neatly contained in separate sealed plastic containers

- they wear rubbers gloves

- they assemble it in front f you and not take the ones that have been sitting there for a day.

- Also try to buy from fresh food stall in the morning rather than end of the day

for Somtam : pretend to be veggie, u get a fresh new cleaned klo everytime !

[thaipod]

I've been sick several times from food poisoning . A lot of restaurants and food carts do not work with clean surfaces and utensils also wiping areas, chopping boards and themselves with the same rag all day and of course not washing their hands and of course dogs and cats licking plates in the back of the restaurant .

[JSixpack]

I've been sick several times from food poisoning . A lot of restaurants and food carts do not work with clean surfaces and utensils also wiping areas, chopping boards and themselves with the same rag all day and of course not washing their hands and of course dogs and cats licking plates in the back of the restaurant .

Right. Food poisoning, stomach aches, and diarrhea are quite common in Thailand. A death occurred just the other day:

I haven't had the problem in many years since I stopped eating at stalls and doubtful restos. I eat at "known good" places only; otherwise I cook at home and eat healthy. It's paid off.

Just because you live in Thailand doesn't mean you have to do everything the locals do.

[Richard4849]

I did have a bad case once, and it came from a five-star hotel. So much for supposedly high class places being safer.

[meatboy]

the op states he has been taking norfloxacin what i know these are strong tabs.used for clearing up a dose of gonorrhea,me and mrs meat have always used ca-r-bon charcoal capsules.i think he should ask sheryl in the med.forum on what he has been taking.

[NCFC]

I did have a bad case once, and it came from a five-star hotel. So much for supposedly high class places being safer.

In ten years here, the only time I've been food poisoned and requiring hospitalisation was from eating at a five-star hotel on Rama IV.

For street food you just eat stuff that is thoroughly cooked before your eyes and you'll be ok.

[Familyonthemove]

I did have a bad case once, and it came from a five-star hotel. So much for supposedly high class places being safer.

In ten years here, the only time I've been food poisoned and requiring hospitalisation was from eating at a five-star hotel on Rama IV.

For street food you just eat stuff that is thoroughly cooked before your eyes and you'll be ok.

Yes ... that's the best way. Eat what you can see being cooked in front of you, and you'll be OK.

Raw, fresh veg and salad is a common cause of bacterial food poisoning - in street stalls and 5* hotels. Ideally salad needs to be washed and then dipped in chlorine solution, most good hotels and restaurants will do this, but human error can still lead to problems.

And as several posters have siad - Bangkok water is OK from a bacterial point of view ... .although pesticides and hormones can be an issue depending on the season/rainfall etc.

The best Bangkok street vendors keep the fish balls, chicken and pork on ice and cook it in front of you on a charcoal grill. Can't get much safer than that, even in a 5* hotel.

There are the potential issues about exhaust pollution in street food or pesticides in veg ..... but the risk from smoking, (passive and active) and from air pollution in busy streets will be higher.