Food Poisoning in Togo

Hi Andy,
AS you may remember, I was a chef in USA for 29 years. I was certified as a "sood Sanitarian" in 3 states, ie Colorado, New York and California. Botulinum only incubate in oxygen free environment,therefore Botulism is quite easily transfered in old or damaged cans. Be especially careful of cans that seem to be expanding outward from within, and cans that make a hissing noise when you first open them.The hissing noise is the sound of bacterial waste in the form of gas escaping.
Canned food and especially vegetables are always of a poor quality nutritionally speaking compared to fresh. I suggest rather than getting rid of your hot plate, you purchase a pot or pan and buy fresh and cook thouroughly. Almost all canned veggies like the petite pois in your photo are just boiled with a little salt, before being canned. Why not just boil them and salt them yourself? Three minutes of boiling at a full rolling boil will kill every food borne micro organism known. with the exception of certain molds, which are not harmful any way. the harmful ones all die before they reach 180F or 92C.
I am still in Uruguay. in Colonia del Sacramento. living on about 500USD a month but it is not easy. this is a rather expensive country.
Peace and love,
Rambling Robert

Asiabill from has written 258 comments

Sorry to hear you're sick especially as you are alone without any friendly face to help cheer you up nor nurse you back to health. I guess such sickness often goes along with the "adventure" destinations you chose while you wer in Guatemala / Latin America. I'm sure Africa must be the main dumping grounds for all inferior products, foodstuffs , fake auto parts, fertilizers, poisons, appliances and machines.

I haven't been taking vitamin supplements since running out this past July in Vietnam and have noticed in recent weeks my energy level is lower than usual. I had a weird bothersome health problem last year which lasted nearly a year and nothing the doctors prescribed seem to work or cure the condition so I started experimenting and stopped taking my one aspirin everyday or two and the condition cleared up. But since then I haven't had any blood tests etc so maybe my other #s aren't as healthy. So today with a new supply of vitamins bought on sale in Honolulu at Walmart and Longs I filled my plastic weekly pill box. Time will tell in the next few days if I feel more energetic and "youthful".

TAKE IT EASY ANDY and TAKE CARE of yourself. GET WELL SOON! Bill

Gadget from has written 916 comments

Hissing noise, wow, I thought normal.

I do not enjoy cooking, and if I wish I can use alcohol as fuel. I am slowly giving up the Americanism of not asking for help. I have learned I can walk up to women and ask,
"Will you cook this."

In Africa men do not cook, except in restaurants, and they feel I need help Go figure why men cook in restaurants.

Pato from has written 56 comments

I agree strongly with Robert.

I generally get fresh vegetables, wash them with antibacterial soap, rinse them well, and then cook in boiled water.

I generally make a lot of soups or pasta (just toss the vegetables in the water with the cooking pasta).

I agree strongly about avoiding vegetable from restaurants -- a quick glance at their prep/ storage methods is enough to realize that they are little time bombs of sickness. I have no idea if what is bring brought out to me has been washed well enough (or washed at all) and I like to have an idea about that which I put into my body.

Good to hear that you are feeling better.

Walk Slow,

Wade

Robert is right.
1. always drink PURE H2O-- boiling kills micro-organisms you must use BerkeyWater's
travel can with ceramic candles, or Sport Bottle. LifeStraw @$2-3 retail if you can find it, or
BETTER, LifeStraw Family which hangs on a wall. all these solutions are cheap and portable.
log 4 - log 9 = removes 99.99-99.9999999 of micro-organisms, including virus, heavy metals, organo-phosphates. first, remove excess sediment with coffee filter paper second, BOIL third, filter. all cost

Andy, sometimes you say that too many African woman are fat. Why that? They have to much good food (and not enough exercises). One classic veg is Okra soup, or draw soup. You can eat that hot without any risk together with pounded jam. Then is there fried plantain, very nice and sweet. Eat that with boiled rice, pounded yam and black eye beans. Then are there many stews made with meat inside. Does that have a disadvantage? Yes, this foods are often too spicy for the normal taste. So you need to find people willing to take off a part from their cooking at the right time and continue without ANY hot pepper. Other stuff is fried rice, and any type of fried chicken. Fresh veg (salads) should be avoided: Boil it, peel it or forget it!

Andy, find yourself a place out in suburbs of Kumasi, Ghana. You will be happy, kabobs, rice with shito, rice with chicken in, etc., etc.

TravelingArtist from wrote 1 comment

Hi Andy! I need some advice. I'm an avid traveler, and I like to think that I'm pretty smart with my money when booking flights- but after reading your page on 'round the world travel and airfare...I've decided I can do a whole lot better!

My goal is to travel Africa. Ultimately, I'll be departing from Toronto, Canada but am willing to travel to any other city (LA, BC, NYC) in order to find the cheapest airfare to the continent. I am also willing to begin my journey anywhere in Africa, although (if I had a choice), I'd love to do so in Ethiopia or Senegal/Guinea.

Any suggestions about this?

In addition, I want to avoid the packaged "adventure" tours if I can however, as a 5'1 blonde, I'm a bit hesitant to do this trip solo. So, break it down for me- is it safe? I'm aware that one can find themselves in a dangerous situation anywhere in the world, but unfortunately, being a woman -especially a petite one- can present some problems at times...and I've experienced these first hand (with no unfortunate consequences thankfully).

Have you ever tried these "GAP" or "Intrepid" overland tours through Africa? If so, are they any good- or do they alienate the travelers from the locals?

Thank you very much for your help- love your blog.
You rock!!!!!
Deanna

Gadget from has written 916 comments

Deanna, this type of answer would be better on the proper subject, the (New) around the world airfare page, you can comment on the bottom and I can reply.
http://www.hobotraveler.com/around-the-world-airfare/index.php

Motorcycle Bob from has written 84 comments

Andy wrote: "Hissing noise, wow, I thought normal."

many cans hiss inward when you open them. THAT is normal. Canned food should be in a bit of a vacuum as the food is canned hot, then it cools.

If it hisses OUT, you have a problem. Sometimes you can tell if it is OK by looking at the ends of the can, they should be flat or bow inward a little.

But of course, this is Africa, who knows.