--- title: Tips to avoid food poisoning when dining out date: 2024-01-28T17:28:00-08:00 author: Julie Dueck canonical_url: "https://marlerclark.com/news_events/tips-to-avoid-food-poisoning-when-dining-out" section: News --- [All News](/news_events) / [Case News](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news) / # Tips to avoid food poisoning when dining out Avoiding food poisoning when dining out involves taking certain precautions to ensure the safety and cleanliness of the food you consume. Here are some tips to help you reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses: **Choose reputable establishments:** Select restaurants and food vendors with good reputations for cleanliness and quality. **Check hygiene ratings:** In many places, restaurants are required to display hygiene ratings. Check these ratings before choosing a place to eat. **Cleanliness of the establishment:** Look around and observe the cleanliness of the restaurant, including the dining area, restrooms, and kitchen. A clean environment is likely to have better food safety practices. **Inspect personal hygiene of staff:** Ensure that the kitchen staff and servers practice good personal hygiene, such as wearing clean uniforms and using gloves when appropriate. **Fresh and well-cooked food:** Opt for well-cooked food, as thorough cooking kills harmful bacteria. Avoid undercooked or raw meat, seafood, and eggs. Make sure your food is served hot. **Avoid raw or undercooked seafood:** Raw or undercooked seafood, like sushi or oysters, poses a higher risk of foodborne illnesses. If you're at a high-risk restaurant, consider avoiding these dishes. **Check food expiration dates:** Verify that the ingredients used in your meal are fresh. Be cautious of any expired or spoiled items. **Be cautious with salads and raw vegetables:** Ensure that salads and raw vegetables are properly washed and handled to reduce the risk of contamination. **Avoid cross-contamination:** Cross-contamination occurs when raw meat or seafood comes into contact with other foods. Ensure that the kitchen practices proper separation of raw and cooked foods. **Ask about ingredient substitutions:** If you have food allergies or sensitivities, ask about ingredient substitutions or inform the staff about your dietary restrictions. **Be wary of buffets:** Buffets can be a breeding ground for bacteria if not properly maintained. Choose reputable buffets and be cautious of food sitting out for long periods. **Wash your hands:** Wash your hands thoroughly before eating, especially if you've been in public places or handling objects that may be contaminated. **Avoid tap water in certain regions:** In some areas, it's safer to avoid drinking tap water. Stick to bottled or purified water to prevent waterborne illnesses. **Trust your instincts:** If something doesn't seem right, or if you have concerns about the cleanliness of the establishment, trust your instincts and consider dining elsewhere. Remember that no method is foolproof, but these precautions can significantly reduce the risk of food poisoning when dining out. If you experience symptoms of foodborne illness, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or abdominal pain, seek medical attention promptly. ### Lawsuit updates about foodborne illnesses [Reactive Arthritis Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=reactive-arthritis&year=all) [E. coli Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=e-coli&year=all) [Guillain-Barre Syndrome Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=guillain-barre-syndrome&year=all) [Salmonella Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=salmonella&year=all) [Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=hemolytic-uremic-syndrome&year=all) [Listeria Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=listeria&year=all) [Irritable Bowel Syndrome Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=irritable-bowel-syndrome&year=all) [Hepatitis A Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=hepatitis-a&year=all) [Norovirus Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=norovirus&year=all) [Botulism Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=botulism&year=all) [Campylobacter Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=campylobacter&year=all) [Shigella Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=shigella&year=all) [Cyclospora Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=cyclospora&year=all) ### Lawsuits updates by year [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 1998](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=1998) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 1999](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=1999) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2000](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2000) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2001](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2001) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2002](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2002) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2003](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2003) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2004](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2004) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2005](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2005) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2006](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2006) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2007](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2007) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2008](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2008) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2009](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2009) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2010](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2010) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2011](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2011) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2012](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2012) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2013](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2013) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2014](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2014) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2015](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2015) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2016](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2016) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2017](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2017) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2018](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2018) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2019](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2019) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2020](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2020) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2021](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2021) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2022](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2022) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2023](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2023) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2024](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2024) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2025](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2025) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2026](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2026) ##### Get Help #### Affected by an outbreak or recall? 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