Food safety specialist shares tips as gastrointestinal symptoms reported at Cancun resort and Pearson Airport
With March break travel underway, Ontario health officials and food safety experts are reminding vacationers to take precautions after reports of gastrointestinal illness linked to recent trips south.
Several Canadian tourists who stayed at the Royalton Splash Riviera in Cancun, Mexico, reported becoming ill during their stay or shortly after returning home. One traveller said her family was diagnosed with food-borne parasites and norovirus.
Last week, Peel Paramedics responded to Toronto Pearson International Airport after multiple passengers on an international flight experienced vomiting. Seven individuals were assessed and declined hospital transport.
News reports indicated the flight was operated by WestJet and arriving from Cancun, though officials have not confirmed whether the passengers were connected to one another or had stayed at the same resort. The cause of the illnesses has not been publicly confirmed.
Peel Public Health said there is no evidence of risk to the broader public but encouraged travellers to practise preventive measures before departure, including consulting a travel medicine specialist, maintaining proper hand hygiene and avoiding potentially contaminated food or water.
Keith Warriner, a food safety expert and professor at the University of Guelph, says contaminated ice, water and ready-to-eat foods such as salads are common sources of illness for travellers.
“When we are on holiday, we assume food and water is the same as here in Canada, which is not always the case,” Warriner said.
He explained that in some destinations, gastrointestinal illness can stem from fecally contaminated municipal water supplies used for drinking, brushing teeth or preparing food. Pathogens such as norovirus, Salmonella, E. coli and certain parasites can spread through contaminated water.
Warriner advises travellers to use bottled water — ensuring the seal is intact — not only for drinking but also for brushing teeth. He also recommends avoiding fresh salads, ice cubes and street vendor foods, and opting for thoroughly cooked meals or sealed packaged items.
Buffets can pose additional risks if food is not kept at proper temperatures. Travellers concerned about food safety at resorts can ask management about recent inspection results.
According to the Government of Canada, traveller’s diarrhea remains the most common illness affecting Canadians abroad. It is typically spread through contaminated food or water and is more common in areas with lower sanitation standards.
Health officials emphasize that rehydration is the primary treatment for traveller’s diarrhea and suggest carrying oral rehydration salts while travelling.
Swimming in contaminated freshwater can also pose risks. Federal travel guidance advises avoiding swallowing water while bathing or swimming and being cautious in freshwater sources, especially after heavy rainfall.
The Government of Canada’s official travel advisories provide destination-specific health and safety information for Canadians heading abroad.
As thousands of Ontario families prepare for March break trips, experts say simple precautions — careful food choices, safe water practices and proper hygiene — can significantly reduce the risk of illness and help ensure a healthy return home.