Canadian food and travel experts are providing tips on avoiding foodborne illnesses while on vacation amid a legal case involving a mother and son who got food poisoning in the Dominican Republic and ultimately died.
April Gougeon and her son Oliver, a 41-year-old Toronto mother and her eight-year-old son, passed away in December 2023 after suffering from a severe case of food poisoning just hours after arriving and dining at an all-inclusive resort in the Dominican Republic.
The family has recently filed a $10-million civil suit against the resort and its travel partners, accusing them of negligence in food preparation and handling, along with other claims.
Sylvain Charlebois, Canadian professor and food distribution researcher, spoke to Now Toronto about the importance of choosing reputable resorts to avoid food safety risks.
“A good deal may not be such a good deal for your health. Typically, lower star resorts tend to hire people that aren’t necessarily properly skilled when it comes to food preparation, cleanliness, and so you do increase your risks from a food safety perspective,” Charlebois said.
Compared to countries like the Dominican Republic, Canada’s food safety system is much safer and more robust, Charlebois noted. Therefore, Canadian travellers tend to have different standards when it comes to travelling around the world. Charlebois advised to book trips through a trusted travel agency to ensure that the resorts are recommendable.
Avoiding raw foods and products is also essential to making sure the traveller stays healthy during the trip, since the risks are much higher when consumed, Charlebois added.
Canadian travel expert Barry Choi tells Now Toronto that another important aspect to keep in mind is travel insurance, especially for those with allergies or pre-existing medical conditions.
“Let’s say you run into a medical issue. If you immediately contact your travel insurance provider, they can guide you along the process. They can find out exactly which medical clinics or hospitals are set up, and they’ll direct you to how to get there. And they can immediately give you an answer whether you’ll be covered or not…And the nice thing about having travel medical insurance is, you’re covered so you’re not waiting around,” Choi said.
Choi notes that many people may already have travel medical insurance through their full-time employment benefits or premium credit cards. For those who don’t have access to either, there are affordable standalone policies that can be purchased.
Experts stress that travellers can take the necessary steps to protect themselves.
As Canadians continue to escape the cold for sunny destinations, a little preparation can go a long way in ensuring a trip remains memorable for the right reasons.
