• For 2024 Pilgrims: €50,- donation = 1 year with no ads on the forum + 90% off any 2024 Guide. More here.
    (Discount code sent to you by Private Message after your donation)

Search 69,459 Camino Questions

Is It: Food Poisoning, Stomach Flu…Or, Just a change in diet?

Arn

Veteran Member
Several recent threads touch (lightly) on the painful results of pilgrims on Camino suffering from either food poisoning or possibly stomach flu. In these threads, the writer describes the symptoms and, if professionally treated, the clinical finding.
But, let’s be candid, “When you are vomiting every hour or going through a bad round of diarrhea, you may not care that much whether you have a stomach virus or food poisoning.” See https://reliantmedicalgroup.org/blog/2018/07/20/is-it-a-stomach-virus-or-food-poisoning/
Nearly two years ago, I drastically changed my eating habits. Gone are my life-long love affair with pasta, rice, cereals of all sorts, especially steel-cut oats. And, I began receiving letters from my local package store inquiring if I were OK. Unfortunately, they missed my weekly visits stocking up on rum, fine single-malt whisky, and wine. The rum has made a hasty retreat, the single-malt relegated to Sunday evening and holidays, but the wine remains a nightly staple with supper.
On my previous Caminos, I plodded along, eating just about everything I could get my hands on. All in the name of cultural saturation. Many of the foods I no longer eat were right in line with my standard daily menu at home, so, except for losing about twenty pounds (9kg)on my first SJPDP to SDC and a few pounds/kgs on other Caminos, I had no noticeable discomfort.
My upcoming (August 26th) Camino Frances, starting at SJPDP, will be an actual testbed as to whether my current eating regime will result, given I do not contract either food poisoning or stomach flu, in noticeable distress as my body absorbs the possibly non-essential nutrients resident in a traditional “menu del dia.”
Let’s see how it all comes out, shall we!
 
New Original Camino Gear Designed Especially with The Modern Peregrino In Mind!
Several recent threads touch (lightly) on the painful results of pilgrims on Camino suffering from either food poisoning or possibly stomach flu. In these threads, the writer describes the symptoms and, if professionally treated, the clinical finding.
But, let’s be candid, “When you are vomiting every hour or going through a bad round of diarrhea, you may not care that much whether you have a stomach virus or food poisoning.” See https://reliantmedicalgroup.org/blog/2018/07/20/is-it-a-stomach-virus-or-food-poisoning/
Nearly two years ago, I drastically changed my eating habits. Gone are my life-long love affair with pasta, rice, cereals of all sorts, especially steel-cut oats. And, I began receiving letters from my local package store inquiring if I were OK. Unfortunately, they missed my weekly visits stocking up on rum, fine single-malt whisky, and wine. The rum has made a hasty retreat, the single-malt relegated to Sunday evening and holidays, but the wine remains a nightly staple with supper.
On my previous Caminos, I plodded along, eating just about everything I could get my hands on. All in the name of cultural saturation. Many of the foods I no longer eat were right in line with my standard daily menu at home, so, except for losing about twenty pounds (9kg)on my first SJPDP to SDC and a few pounds/kgs on other Caminos, I had no noticeable discomfort.
My upcoming (August 26th) Camino Frances, starting at SJPDP, will be an actual testbed as to whether my current eating regime will result, given I do not contract either food poisoning or stomach flu, in noticeable distress as my body absorbs the possibly non-essential nutrients resident in a traditional “menu del dia.”
Let’s see how it all comes out, shall we!
You could try taking some of these - https://www.optibacprobiotics.com/uk/product/for-every-day-30-capsules

I found they helped me, as I was worried about food poisoning. They also do a range designed for people travelling abroad - https://www.optibacprobiotics.com/uk/product/for-travelling-abroad-20-capsules

Have a good one...walk that is.
 
€2,-/day will present your project to thousands of visitors each day. All interested in the Camino de Santiago.
Keep us updated on your progress. I start my Camino on September 17, and when I walked three years ago, I had stomach issues near the end. I am bringing this amazing Grayl water filter with me as I wonder if my stomach wasn't ready for the bacteria in the tap water. We will see what happens.
 
Several recent threads touch (lightly) on the painful results of pilgrims on Camino suffering from either food poisoning or possibly stomach flu. In these threads, the writer describes the symptoms and, if professionally treated, the clinical finding.
But, let’s be candid, “When you are vomiting every hour or going through a bad round of diarrhea, you may not care that much whether you have a stomach virus or food poisoning.” See https://reliantmedicalgroup.org/blog/2018/07/20/is-it-a-stomach-virus-or-food-poisoning/
Nearly two years ago, I drastically changed my eating habits. Gone are my life-long love affair with pasta, rice, cereals of all sorts, especially steel-cut oats. And, I began receiving letters from my local package store inquiring if I were OK. Unfortunately, they missed my weekly visits stocking up on rum, fine single-malt whisky, and wine. The rum has made a hasty retreat, the single-malt relegated to Sunday evening and holidays, but the wine remains a nightly staple with supper.
On my previous Caminos, I plodded along, eating just about everything I could get my hands on. All in the name of cultural saturation. Many of the foods I no longer eat were right in line with my standard daily menu at home, so, except for losing about twenty pounds (9kg)on my first SJPDP to SDC and a few pounds/kgs on other Caminos, I had no noticeable discomfort.
My upcoming (August 26th) Camino Frances, starting at SJPDP, will be an actual testbed as to whether my current eating regime will result, given I do not contract either food poisoning or stomach flu, in noticeable distress as my body absorbs the possibly non-essential nutrients resident in a traditional “menu del dia.”
Let’s see how it all comes out, shall we!
SO..precisely, what are you eating these days ? I read what you are not eating…
 
On my first Camino (CF) in 2014, I got a bad stomach thing. It was running like wildfire through the pilgrims around me, in varying degrees of seriousness. For me, it resulted in about 12 hours of vomiting and a couple days of recovery. I never have known whether it was a food borne problem or stomach flu. I’m more inclined to think flu since it affected random pilgrims. I’ve never had that since on any of 5 different pilgrimages in Europe. I think slight stomach difficulties can easily result from any change in local bacteria or just different foods. I notice that especially as I get older, and especially with richer, more fatty foods. Just can’t do them as much anymore.
 
Get a spanish phone number with Airalo. eSim, so no physical SIM card. Easy to use app to add more funds if needed.
SO..precisely, what are you eating these days ? I read what you are not eating…
Meat, Brussels Sprouts, Riced Cauliflower, avocado, asparagus, Broccoli, shrimp, lobster, pistachio/almond nuts, hard cheese, liver, pork rinds ( instead of chips) mostly anything low carbohydrate-high fat. My Dr sez my blood panels are that of someone in their mid-sixties. No more pain or HBP meds. So far so good.
 
I am a microbiologist by training and God willing I start my Camino September 9.
I will stick with bottled water even though I don’t like to waste all the plastic I’m not taking chances. That being said I will still have to figure out how to consume at least 2 to 3000 cal per day and hopefully not all donuts- and I’m not sure all of the foods will be cooked in other words heat treated to kill the micro organisms. my guidebook has always been if the restaurant and what I can see of the kitchen and the workers look sanitary I’ve generally been pretty lucky. My point is if I observe the converse —-lack of overall cleanliness in both facility tables workers and glances into the kitchen I will skip it. I’ll never forget taking a chance in the Philippines and I thought I was going to die of the food poisoning I got from a sketchy place eating an enchilada that was probably scraped up off the floor!
 
Several recent threads touch (lightly) on the painful results of pilgrims on Camino suffering from either food poisoning or possibly stomach flu. In these threads, the writer describes the symptoms and, if professionally treated, the clinical finding.
But, let’s be candid, “When you are vomiting every hour or going through a bad round of diarrhea, you may not care that much whether you have a stomach virus or food poisoning.” See https://reliantmedicalgroup.org/blog/2018/07/20/is-it-a-stomach-virus-or-food-poisoning/
Nearly two years ago, I drastically changed my eating habits. Gone are my life-long love affair with pasta, rice, cereals of all sorts, especially steel-cut oats. And, I began receiving letters from my local package store inquiring if I were OK. Unfortunately, they missed my weekly visits stocking up on rum, fine single-malt whisky, and wine. The rum has made a hasty retreat, the single-malt relegated to Sunday evening and holidays, but the wine remains a nightly staple with supper.
On my previous Caminos, I plodded along, eating just about everything I could get my hands on. All in the name of cultural saturation. Many of the foods I no longer eat were right in line with my standard daily menu at home, so, except for losing about twenty pounds (9kg)on my first SJPDP to SDC and a few pounds/kgs on other Caminos, I had no noticeable discomfort.
My upcoming (August 26th) Camino Frances, starting at SJPDP, will be an actual testbed as to whether my current eating regime will result, given I do not contract either food poisoning or stomach flu, in noticeable distress as my body absorbs the possibly non-essential nutrients resident in a traditional “menu del dia.”
Let’s see how it all comes out, shall we!
Thanks for sharing as this weighs on my mind. I have anti diarrheal OTC pills packed but now I’m reconsidering leaving them at home. Much of the food listed in the article that could cause food poisoning are some of my favs - bummer.
 
St James' Way - Self-guided 4-7 day Walking Packages, Reading to Southampton, 110 kms
When I walked in 2015 a number of people came down with a gastrointestinal illness. They had problems at both ends, if you get my drift. My guess then and now is that it was Norovirus (see Wiki article linked below). In the linked article they mention that one of the risks is living in close quarters. Sound familiar? Hmmm.

Wikipedia Article on Norovirus
 
I've never had a problem drinking the tap water or eating the food. As we now all know, fellow human beings are much more likely to make us sick! Hopefully the Covid safe rules will work with transmission of all human pathogens.
 
Last edited:
St James' Way - Self-guided 4-7 day Walking Packages, Reading to Southampton, 110 kms
Careful hand hygeine after using the 'facilities' AND prior to food preparation and eating goes a long way in preventing some of these 'gastro' issues in communal living areas.
 
I suspect that if you spent a month in your home town, sleeping in different rooms every night, eating 100% of your meals in restaurants, eating from food trucks, or grabbing snacks while on the go, often without handwashing, you would have the same chance of getting sick as you do on the Camino in Spain.

Tap water in Spain is as safe as it is anywhere, and I drink it with confidence.
 
I suspect that if you spent a month in your home town, sleeping in different rooms every night, eating 100% of your meals in restaurants, eating from food trucks, or grabbing snacks while on the go, often without handwashing, you would have the same chance of getting sick as you do on the Camino in Spain.

Tap water in Spain is as safe as it is anywhere, and I drink it with confidence.
Agree. I order carefully from the menu and frequently not from the menu for Peregrino and s9met8mes not the menu dl dia. We don’t consume much alcohol, especially when we need to continue walking sothefixed meal may not be as attractive to us as others. I tryto stick to simple cooked foods - lots of ckicken cutlets, roasted chicken. Ocassionallya good state in a particular location. always a good pizza and wonderful Fresh saladin Ponferada
 
The focus is on reducing the risk of failure through being well prepared. 2nd ed.
Several recent threads touch (lightly) on the painful results of pilgrims on Camino suffering from either food poisoning or possibly stomach flu. In these threads, the writer describes the symptoms and, if professionally treated, the clinical finding.
But, let’s be candid, “When you are vomiting every hour or going through a bad round of diarrhea, you may not care that much whether you have a stomach virus or food poisoning.” See https://reliantmedicalgroup.org/blog/2018/07/20/is-it-a-stomach-virus-or-food-poisoning/
Nearly two years ago, I drastically changed my eating habits. Gone are my life-long love affair with pasta, rice, cereals of all sorts, especially steel-cut oats. And, I began receiving letters from my local package store inquiring if I were OK. Unfortunately, they missed my weekly visits stocking up on rum, fine single-malt whisky, and wine. The rum has made a hasty retreat, the single-malt relegated to Sunday evening and holidays, but the wine remains a nightly staple with supper.
On my previous Caminos, I plodded along, eating just about everything I could get my hands on. All in the name of cultural saturation. Many of the foods I no longer eat were right in line with my standard daily menu at home, so, except for losing about twenty pounds (9kg)on my first SJPDP to SDC and a few pounds/kgs on other Caminos, I had no noticeable discomfort.
My upcoming (August 26th) Camino Frances, starting at SJPDP, will be an actual testbed as to whether my current eating regime will result, given I do not contract either food poisoning or stomach flu, in noticeable distress as my body absorbs the possibly non-essential nutrients resident in a traditional “menu del dia.”
Let’s see how it all comes out, shall we!
I have done 7 Caminos and never had any problems with the water from fountains or springs. However, after returning from my May 2019 Camino, a sever case of food poisoning developed. Test indicated it was from bacteria often found in European shell fish. I am quite sure it was from undercooked scallops I ate in that fancy tapas bar near the Cathedral in Santiago the day before my return--I thought they knew what they were doing, so I ate the things even though the insides were clearly raw. The first antibiotic didn't kill it, the second did, but I had symptoms for 3 weeks!

I completed the Frances 22 July this year and continued to Muxia and Finnisterre with no issues. That tapas bar was closed. However, a friend walking with me developed food poising and diarrhea for several days somewhere after Saria. There was also a lot of blog discussion of Norovirus rampaging after all the isolation and mask wearing that was recently discontinued. Keep your hands clean and don't touch your eyes!
 
Spain is a first world country. It's not the water, folks. In all likelihood it's communal living and your fellow pilgrim's poo-poo hands from poor hygiene habits after toilet time. Said poo-poo hands pass on those nasty little fecal bacteria everywhere, especially in albergue kitchens.
Wash any utensils and plates, bowls etc you are going to use even if they're in the cabinet or drying rack.
 
My one horrendous bout of D and V began after leaving Burgos and came to a head after climbing up onto the meseta. I'm sure it was food poisoning from a tapas dinner the night before. I don't know how long the food had been on the counter but as I love eggs I had extra tapas with eggs. My friend ate no eggs and was not affected. I struggled into Hornillos to the Albergue El Alfar, on the left and asked for a bucket, promptly throwing up and nearly passing out. They were so kind to me and next morning the owner drove me to his friend's Albergue in Castrojeriz and I rested in a private room until feeling human again in the evening.
I'm very wary now of tapas.
 
New Original Camino Gear Designed Especially with The Modern Peregrino In Mind!

Most read last week in this forum

Could I ask what may be naive question. This will be my 1st Camino and I will be mostly staying in alberques. Could you please explain the bathroom/shower etiquette to me? I have no idea what...
Do i need both these apps? I want to spend as little time my device as possible so if one app will do fine that’s my preference.
I was planning to document my journey through my blog (or Vlog, as I would probably take lots of videos). I was thinking of using my iPhone, and I ordered a foldable keyboard to facilitate typing...
I did the Norte in 2017. This set off a wild ride of changes in life - shifting many things. I am now at a new plateau and it feels like the right time to do Camino #2, this time the...
Hi to all, I'm looking for a really, really good place (an artist) to get a Tattoo in Santiago, it could be before Santiago but I presume in Santiago I will be ready to have my first one. The...
My daughter and I will be on the Portuguese on June and July starting in Lisbon. We will arrive in Porto about the 27th of June. We want to stay for three nights. Can we stay in an albergue for...

❓How to ask a question

How to post a new question on the Camino Forum.

Similar threads

Forum Rules

Forum Rules

Camino Updates on YouTube

Camino Conversations

Most downloaded Resources

This site is run by Ivar at

in Santiago de Compostela.
This site participates in the Amazon Affiliate program, designed to provide a means for Ivar to earn fees by linking to Amazon
Official Camino Passport (Credential) | 2024 Camino Guides
Back
Top