Despite widespread awareness of health risks tied to certain foods and tap water abroad, many travellers continue to engage in behaviours that increase the likelihood of illness, according to the Global Rescue 2026 Traveller Sentiment and Safety Survey.
Tap water exposure remains one of the most common risk areas. Overall, 44% of travellers say they are most likely to brush their teeth with tap water in a foreign country, making it the most common accidental exposure. Another 30% report drinking beverages with ice added, while 9% say they consume drinks diluted with local water such as juice or cocktails. Smaller shares report rinsing their mouth in the shower (6%) or drinking a glass of tap water directly (2%).
“Water safety boils down to the local area where travellers are staying,” warns Jeff Weinstein, a paramedic and medical operations manager for Global Rescue. “Assumptions about water quality can vary widely from place to place, even within the same country.”
Food
Food-related trust presents similar risk tolerance. Nearly half of all travellers, 49%, say they trust freshly cooked hot food from a street vendor the most when faced with risky food choices during travel. All other options trail far behind, including street-vended fruits or snacks (7%), fresh salads or leafy greens (6%), and food purchased during peak crowds or festivals (6%).
Sushi or ceviche, runny or soft-cooked eggs and buffet foods with unclear temperature control each draw trust from fewer than 5% of respondents.
“When you travel to a place that’s new to you, there are a lot of germs your body is not used to,” Weinstein said. “Something like traveller’s diarrhea or a really bad case of food poisoning can become an emergency.”
Dan Richards, CEO of The Global Rescue Companies says the findings underscore a persistent gap between knowledge and behaviour. “Most travellers understand, in theory, that food and water safety matters, but convenience and familiarity often override caution,” Richards said. “These results show why pre-travel medical and risk guidance remains critical, especially for travellers heading to regions with different sanitation standards.”
Richards added that differences between men and women, and between US and non-US travellers, point to varying risk perceptions. “Men and non-US travellers tend to accept higher levels of risk, while women and US travellers are generally more cautious, but no group is immune from making risky choices when travelling,” he said.
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