What is safe to eat in Brazil?

Question

What is safe for an American to eat in Brazil so that they won't get sick? And what should you stay away from?

Answer 1

I agree with SACI's answer.  It's very important to watch your intake within the first 3 days.  When we go I tend to eat breakfast at a well known padaria (local bakery), lunch and dinner at a high end restaurant, whenever we're at a place we need some quick there will always be a Mc Donalds around, they have the same standards as their american counter parts.

Stay away from tents, trailers and hole in the walls type of eateries and you'll be fine.

Answer 2

Stay away from everything, that way maybe you'll starve to death and we can have one less ignorant tourist in Brazil.

Answer 3

This question was ridiculous! I agree with Alberto.

What do you think about Brazil?

Do you think the Brazil is an infected country because it's in the tropical side of the Earth?

I hate this kind of questions. You think because you are the richest country of the world, you are the best country.

Gimme a break! You want the Irak, Amazonia, everything.

You talk about internacionalization of the Amazonia, but why? If you destroyed almost all the woods because of your wishes for money, which is really BIG! And you already think that the progress is destroying the Nature.

"Oh, God! I'm American and what do I do now? I'm going to South America and I don't know what I eat because I have everything made in the factories!" Blah!

Stop to think that you are the center of the world.

Hey! You don't live alone in the Earth.

Respect if you want to be respected...

So, stop with tese childish games with the nations of the world. The person that you wanted so much was gone!

I just wait that you have a clean mind in the elections.

Religious like your almost future president wants the abort... (hahaha) I think that he has to study the Holy Bible before to say these abominations...

Best wishes...

Answer 4

This is the kind of answer that I  hate.

What do you think about Brazil? Infected rotten water and food with worms?

Brazilian food have high level of industrialization. Every food industry have some food engineers to prepare the best for us. Be frozen or natural food. And you you treat us as if we were Haiti living a civil war?

By the way: don't say 'americans', because brazilian are americans. We are not living in Africa, Oceania, Asia or Europe, and our continent have a name: America. Then, everybody who born in Brazil is as american as any person born in the USA, Canada, Cuba, etc.

If you do not trust in the quality of brazilian foods, it is better nor to come to here. Keep in the USA, and, if you to be sick there, good, after all, you were sick in U.S.A.. Perhaps, you find that it is good…

LITTLE OLD'ME'

Your question would be totally normal if you ask for information about some kinds of braziliam dishes which can be "dangerous" (indigest) for tourists.

The problem was your phrase "to eat in Brazil so that they won't get sick". You are not telling about an eventual problem in the stomach, but, about to be sick, and this suggests lack of higiene/care or something like this.

Note that I'm an great enthusiast for  tourists (see my previous answers), but, in this case I understood some bad about my country and had to answer some that I don't like to tell.

Sorry if I misunderstood, but, your text give us an another impression.

Answer 5

I don't think you'll have problems with food here. But never eat things sold on the beach, especially "acarajé". McDonald's is also a big problem here. People get sick and poisoned.

Answer 6

Pretty much everything. Take care with the water is a good idea. Take a look at the place to make sure it is clean. Go to the restroom, if clean there is a good possibility the kitchen also is.

Answer 7

just please do not buy a tuna sandwich at the beach, if you buy something at the beach make sure there is no mayonnaise on it. i would also take care with fresh salad, depending where you are and in which restaurant.

do not drink tap water, government says water in sao paulo city is potable but it does not taste good so I would avoid it there as well, just in case... but you can brush your teeth with water without a problem.

fruits and juices are fine

Answer 8

If you want to be very very safe avoid raw seafood or meats.  Bottled water is safe.  order drinks w/no ice unless you know the place uses filtered water for ice-making.  mostly everything is delicious and probably safe, but if you have immune system deficiency then you should take the safety precautions i mentioned and ask your dr for more info

Enjoy!!  Brazil is wonderful!

Answer 9

I've been to  Brazil several times and never had a problem with the food. Nobody drinks water from the tap, natives have filtration systems at home or buy bottled water. If you are going to the beach be careful with seafood sold at stands on the beach; they sell skewered fried shrimp that obviously are not properly refrigerated - you can become sick eating those, just go for the drinks - "batidas" fruit concoctions with vodka or cachaca -try the passionfruit (maracuja) or the coconut (coco). Other than that use common sense- look for clean places to eat.

Answer 10

Food and water in Brazil are usually good, but, you know, we have life inside us, and the different bacteria can make all the difference.

After more than 10 years working with foreign tourists in Brazil, I believe I came to the perfect advice about food and water in Brazil:

* WATER:

- NEVER drink tap water - not even Brazilians do it.

- Drink only bottled mineral water.

* You need to get used to the local bacteria, so the best strategy is slow, controled exposure:

- Be extremely careful during your first 3 days: no ice, no uncooked vegetables, no raw fish or rare meat, no fruits with the skin (except if washed with chlorine pills).

- After 3 days you can eat everything except the very dangerous food like clams and oysters.

* Search for the cleanest places, even if it is a little more expensive.

I´ve been giving that advice for many years and it is statistically proved that it can help a lot!