e. coli

Whilst all-inclusive holidays are a popular option for many, there are certain risks travellers need to be aware of before jetting off, and one expert has shared some top tips

A travel expert has issued a stark warning that while all-inclusive getaways might appear tempting, they can pose certain dangers.

Before flying out to your resort, it’s crucial to understand potential threats, particularly when it comes to food and drinks.

Grant Winter, a compliance officer at travel insurance company Good To Go, warns that food in certain destinations may harbour illnesses such as cholera, typhoid, and hepatitis A.

More frequently, though, holidaymakers could be struck down by a. nasty bout of sickness and diarrhoea from food or beverages contaminated with bacteria the body is not used to.

To help guarantee tourists can enjoy their getaway without being stuck in their rooms, Winter has the following dos and don’ts…

Water

He highlights the significance of water safety, recommending travellers choose bottled water as the most dependable option when overseas, even if internet sources suggest local tap water is safe.

He insists: “Ensure the lid of the bottle is well sealed before you drink it. If you can’t get access to bottled water for whatever reason, only drink tap water that has been boiled, use chlorine tablets or iodine to sterilise the water.

“Always be sure to avoid prolonged exposure to iodine though – this method isn’t best when doing it more than once or twice.”

Buffet dangers

Grant cautions against eating cooked food that’s been left out for too long. He recommends hitting the all-inclusive buffet early to avoid food that’s been exposed to the elements for a prolonged period.

He further advises: “It’s also better to avoid food that has flies buzzing around it, and only eat raw fruit and vegetables that you have peeled yourself to reduce the risk of contamination.”

Steer clear of ice

While water should be approached with caution, ice presents another problem, as Grant explains. “Don’t forget about the risk of ice cubes in your drinks. In many cases, these are probably made from untreated tap water (however, some large resorts do use bottled water, so it’s always worth checking), which can cause you to get sick.”

Be aware of food poisoning risks

Grant emphasises that you “should always check to see if the food is piping hot throughout before eating, but when abroad you should be extra vigilant of this.

“For example, eating tropical fish that haven’t been cooked properly can lead to ciguatera fish poisoning, and unpasteurised dairy such as ice cream from a street vendor, could harbour salmonella, E.coli, listeria, or campylobacter, leading to food poisoning.”

Don’t forget personal hygiene

The expert emphasised that, although it may seem self-evident, this should be your “number one priority abroad to help avoid food poisoning and contamination. Always wash your hands after the toilet and before eating or preparing food, and make sure you take an alcohol-based hand gel to use when you’re out and about before eating any food.”

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Victoria Finnigan, 25, has instructed lawyers to investigate the cause of the E.coli infection after her daughter Freya Finnigan-Haynes was left needing emergency surgery

A mother has shared her harrowing tale of a dream holiday to Egypt that turned into “one of the worst experiences of her life” when her two-year-old daughter contracted deadly E.coli..

Victoria Finnigan, 25, has asked lawyers to investigate whether she has a claim after her little girl, Freya Finnigan-Haynes, required emergency surgery following their luxury trip to Hurghada. The toddler was diagnosed with a severe bacterial infection that resulted in both her kidneys failing after she fell seriously ill during the £2,000 holiday last November.

Victoria and her partner Thomas Sloan, 24, had taken Freya away for some winter sun, but all three fell ill with gastric symptoms following their holiday in Egypt.

Upon their return to the UK, Thomas recovered within a few weeks, however, Victoria and Freya were diagnosed with E.coli..

Freya’s condition worsened over the next two days, with her hands, feet and lips turning blue, leading to her being rushed to hospital by ambulance. Both of Freya’s kidneys failed and she was moved to another hospital for surgery to insert dialysis tubes.

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She underwent dialysis for three weeks and received four blood transfusions, remaining in hospital over the Christmas period. Freya now has to take folic acid daily and will need annual check-ups until she turns 18.

Victoria, a home carer, and Thomas, a car body repairer, have since hired lawyers to investigate their illnesses. “We’d been looking forward to our holiday for a long time and couldn’t wait to get out there and enjoy some winter sun,” Victoria, from Twickenham, London, said.

“Instead, it turned into one of the worst experiences of our lives. It was awful when Thomas and I fell ill, but I hoped that Freya had escaped it. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. To see my darling girl so unwell was incredibly traumatic, and to be told that she was suffering kidney failure devastated me.

“All I wanted to do was make her better. Sadly, she’ll have to have regular check-ups for a long time. We know we can’t change what happened but the least we deserve are some answers, especially for Freya.”

The family’s dream trip turned sour when Victoria and Thomas were struck down with sickness and diarrhoea shortly after their holiday began between November 29 to December 9 last year. Their daughter Freya started showing similar symptoms on the flight back home a week later.

While Victoria and Thomas got better within weeks of returning to the UK, Freya’s condition led to hospitalisation due to kidney failure, and she remained in care until New Year’s Eve.

Jatinder Paul, an international serious injury solicitor at Irwin Mitchell representing the family, commented on the ordeal: “The first-hand accounts we’ve heard from Victoria and Thomas are deeply concerning. The impact of gastric illness should never be underestimated. That Freya went on to develop kidney failure and had to undergo dialysis as a result, demonstrates the severity of what can happen.

“Understandably, Victoria and Thomas have a number of concerns over how their holiday was ruined by illness. We’re now investigating those concerns and are determined to provide the family with the answers they deserve.”

A HEALTH food brand has urgently recalled one of its popular snacks over E.coli fears with a “do not eat” warning issued to shoppers.

Grape Tree is recalling Raw Unsalted Macadamia Nuts because Shiga toxin-producing E.coli has been found in one of its batches.

The recall affects 250g packs of the nuts which have a best before date of July 11, 2026.

The store is warning customers who have bought the affected batch, which has a batch code of G41 5 101 250610, not to eat them.

A spokesperson for Grape Tree says: “If you have bought Raw Unsalted Macadamia Nuts 250g as detailed above, do not eat them.

“Instead, check if you have bought the affected batch code.

“You can do this by taking a picture of this notice or writing down the batch code/best before date for reference at home.

“Return the product to the store for a full refund (with or without a receipt).”

The Food Standards Agency also shared the product recall notice, adding that it is England, Wales and Scotland specific.

A spokesperson said: “If you have bought the above product do not eat it. Instead return it to the store from where it was bought for a full refund.

“For more information, please email [email protected].”

It comes after Lidl recently told shoppers not to eat one of its savoury snacks over fears it could contain salmonella.

The discount supermarket urgently recalled its Sol & Mar Chicharricos BBQ Pork Scratchings after the problem was found.

The recall affected 100g packets of the pork scratchings with best before dates ranging from August 5, 2025 through to August 12, 2025.