Synopsis of the App CDC’s Can I Eat This? app puts food safety in a foreign land at the palm of your hands. It takes the guess work out of determining which foods are safe to eat in countries around the world. The goal: enjoy your trip abroad without encountering digestive upset.
Pros
Easy-to-use.
Upbeat and fun tone.
Backed by CDC’s reputation for accurate, evidence based global health information.
Large clickable images make getting to the right information quick and easy.
Delivers answers as "It’s Probably Okay to Eat," "Eat at Your Own Risk" and "You Probably Shouldn’t Eat It" with a corresponding and unmistakable red X, green check mark or yellow caution sign to make the point clear.
Offers helpful tidbits along the way including the definition of bushmeat, information on water disinfection and the dangers of unpasteurized milk and juice.
Compiles CDC’s well researched travel health information into a portable package.
No internet connection required.
Includes information for countries from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe (including Antartica!)
Cons
Rather static design and some graphics appear dated.
There's no information on the safety of the food provided by street vendors in the United States.
Bottom Line
Downloading this app may inspire more confident food choices abroad. Using this app could determine if you will spend more time touring the bathrooms of Peru versus Machu Picchu.
Marisa Moore, MBA, RDN, LD, is based in Atlanta and specializes in culinary nutrition, communications and consulting. She blogs at marisamoore.com. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter.
