Expats living in Philippines unsafe food

[Old55]

In what place do you buy "fresh" meat, and how do you know it's safe to eat?

Do you use a meat thermometer?

[Dave Hounddriver]

Unsafe food is a very interesting topic.  Some of us have sensitive guts due to medical problems and almost any street food puts me in hospital, or at least in agony.  Other people have cast iron guts and can eat raw bait fish with no problem and love it.

I deal with it by being very careful what I eat and how its prepared.  One of the hardest things is eating at the house of other expats as they think I am just being too fussy.  I will often eat at home before going for dinner at another expats house.  Nothing worse than being hungry around a lot of food that you know will send you into gastric distress if you eat it.

 

[Kuya John]

If it ain't refrigerated I don't buy it, same with fish, unless it's just been landed.

The other safe way is not to buy from street vender's 'walking round.

One tip my wife uses with fish is, if the eyes are reddish, it's not fresh!

[Kuya John]

2 hours ago, Old55 said:

 

Do you use a meat thermometer?

I suppose it's best to use one, especially if there is a risk of brown out if using an oven.

That's the good thing about BBQ or open fire methods, charcoal black works every time

[MikeSwede]

I am a veggie lover so most days it is more a question of cleaning it up and steam it slightly.

Meat? Now and then; smelling it and looking at its colour is my rule of thumb. Buying fresh from the market is not a problem for me.

I have one of those iron plated stomachs, it takes a very foul dish to offset me. On top of that, I drench everything in a pile of spices, perhaps it helps killing of a germ or two.

Edited June 17, 2016 by MikeSwede

[Jake]

Thanks Dan (Old55) for the awful memories.  I once did a science project after coming back to US from PI.  Out of curiosity, I conducted a colonic cleansing program which also included taking pills for killing the parasites.  

Judy did not speak to me for several days when I tried to show her my science project.  It was like the Close Encounter of the Turd Kind.....he, he.  

[Tukaram (Tim)]

We buy at one particular Robinson's grocer.  They have a good selection, and quite a lot of the meat is on the verge of frozen.  We have seen them bring in pig halves that are frozen and they cut it up there.  Which is why it is almost frozen in the display - they just cut it up 5 minutes ago. That does not mean it was frozen or even refrigerated yesterday...  Quite often they ice the meat down, even thought he refrigerated cases are working.  Been very happy with them.

At our local wet market I bought a kilo pork that looked good but when I got it home I found it still had more hair & skin than I realized, and tons of bone shards.  It also smelled funny. With all the vile fish smells at the market I could not smell the pork. So I gave it to uncle next door.  Nothing at the wet market is refrigerated or iced down.

But I love eating street BBQ. I know the meat comes from the wet market, and have no idea about how it was handled (I am usre it has never felt any refrigeration ha ha).  I have never gotten sick off of street food though

[Nephi]

12 hours ago, Old55 said:

In what place do you buy "fresh" meat, and how do you know it's safe to eat?

Do you use a meat thermometer?

We buy almost all meat and veggies at the local public market and have for over 13 years now. Only one time have I had to return something and that was a package of professionally wrapped (branded) bacon.

[Old55]

Tim, my Mother in law told me she quit buying meat from the wet market a few years ago. Like you she buys from Robinsons. 

I think fish is fairly easy to check for freshness. Smell, view the gills and eyes.

Dave, I know it must be difficult for you not knowing if something could put you down big time.

I've heard both Anthony Bourdain and Andrew Zimmern say if the street food is grilled as you wait it is most likely safe to eat. I can eat most stuff over there no problem but once I got a "Jake cleansing" put me down for awhile.

[MacBubba]

We go to the wet market early morning for better selection.  Fresher too.