Eating Can Be Dangerous for Your Health

When being Careful Becomes a Rewarding Challenge

By Marty Martindale

It was a glorious Sunday morning in San Diego, and Holland America’s Ryndam rested at anchor waiting for us. We were off for a delightful 10-day cruise to the Baja, Steinbeck’s Sea of Cortez, Mexico’s glorious Copper Canyon National Park and wind it up at Cabo San Lucas. One of our earliest realities was the statement we needed to sign at the pier swearing we had none of some well-described symptoms.

Vacations and cruises are supposed to be times of sublime perfection, no cares, no worries only pure, pure pleasure. Not necessarily so! The Norwalk virus is all around us and around 23 million Americans suffer from its symptoms each year. "It's probably the leading cause of diarrhea in the U.S., so when people are assessing their risks of going on a cruise, ... they should know that going to that restaurant down the road is just as risky," stated Marc-Alain Widdowson, an epidemiologist with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). "These are extremely common outbreaks," he warned.

It’s troubling to plank down big money on a vacation, pack very well, prepare to let go of everything – then wham! You’re charged with the responsibility of a pretty good chance you will become ill.
Are you helpless? No! And, everybody’s learning better cleanliness habits with some excellent results!

Not long after acquainting ourselves with our staterooms, our steward handed us a letter from our captain, Peter J. van Maurik. In it he emphasized, “The biggest problem is the [Norovirus] is easily spread from person to person.” He added, “It is critical that all guests regularly and thoroughly wash their hands with soap and warm water.” Additionally, the ship’s landscape was liberally dotted with Purell® hand sanitizer stations and frequently a pleasant crew member there to help us remember use it.

Any group of people planning to spend time together in a contained region can be defined “a community.” Your neighborhood is a community, so is the group of cruise passengers you’re going to be with for several days. According to CDC, cruise ships have the highest sanitation standards in the world and are one of the few industries (communities) required to report on their sanitation which receives frequent, critical inspections.

Life aboard the Ryndam, and the splendors of Baja, was altered only slightly by the Purell® machines at all conceivable entry points along the Lido’s buffets, at all dining room entrances, near the casino, outside lounges, positioned just before we departed the ship at the different ports and twice along our re-boarding procedure. The Explorations Lounge had wipes at each computer station.

Hand hygiene is the single most important behavior to stop the spread of illnesses and infections. A. C. Neilsen reports the sales of hand sanitizers have doubled since 2003. The Purell® Hand Sanitizer combines 62% ethyl alcohol with blended moisturizers. The alcohol breaks down the germs’ cell walls causing them to die, the moisturizers condition the skin. Once the liquid has evaporated, the germ-killing action has stopped. Do not wipe mixture off of hands, allow to dry which is almost instant.

This story has a good ending: At the end of the cruise, the captain was able to give passengers some good news. Only four passengers were reported having intestinal woes aboard ship during the 10 days, and at least three of them ate foods off-ship. All I had been able to do was practice my best at cleanliness, and apparently my efforts were not limited to me.

Here’s some tips for participating in your own wellness:

Cleanse hands before eating anything.
Eat thoroughly-cooked foods
Avoid raw shellfish and salad bars
Avoid eating with your fingers
Avoid touching one’s face and mouth after touching public handrails, doorknobs and elevator push buttons.
Disinfect hands after handling money or credit cards.
Realize all of public seating’s all surfaces are bacteria laden.
Do not share utensils and drinking glasses.
Disinfect computer keyboards and mouses.
Disinfect all gym equipment or immediately after using.
Drink only bottled water when traveling.

You can reach Marty Martindale at mm@FoodSiteoftheDay.com.