Cleanliness is very important when handling all food. Wash your hands as often as possible with soap, especially before meals. Where sanitation facilities are limited or rudimentary, alcohol hand cleaning gel can be very effective. Bring a few travel-sized bottles from home. They’re very easy to carry anywhere.

Although Tanzanian street food looks and smells tasty, avoid it if you have a sensitive stomach. Eat it only if it’s been cooked piping hot in front of you and served on clean plates.
Food that has been recently prepared, cooked and served piping hot is generally safe to eat, as is fruit (e.g. bananas and oranges) that you can peel yourself. Dairy products that have been pasteurised such as yoghurt, cheese and milk are generally safe (and tasty!) to eat.

Avoid:

• Uncooked fruit and vegetables, including salads
• Cooked food that has been left uncovered e.g.in buffets
• Unpasteurised dairy products
• Raw or undercooked meat, fish and shellfish
• Ice

Only buy water in bottles that are served in factory-produced cans or bottles with intact seals. Carbonated drinks, fruit drinks and pasteurised drinks in this condition are generally safe to drink. Don’t drink anything where you suspect the seal has been tampered with. Tea and coffee made with boiling water and served piping hot are also generally safe to drink. If you don’t have bottled water, you can kill bacteria and other nasties by bringing the water to a rolling boil.
Don’t drink the tap water or clean your teeth with it.