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RETIREMENT

RISE OF THE TUCK-BOX TOURIST

TUCK-BOX TOURISTS: Some holidaymakers fear foreign foods

Wednesday July 16,2008

By Sarah O'Grady, Social Affairs Correspondent

BRITISH holidaymakers are packing baked beans, soup and even tea bags to avoid tummy troubles when they go abroad.

Travellers are so scared of food poisoning that a fifth take their own provisions away with them, a survey reveals.

Almost 20 per cent of families stuff biscuits, chocolate and cornflakes in their suitcases as they prepare for their journey.

And the number includes those going to Continental destinations where countries are subject to the same EU hygiene laws as Britain.

Many of these “tuck-box tourists” also won’t drink the local water, the Halifax Travel Insurance report found.

Tea bags head the top ten list of food and drinks Britons take abroad. They are followed by biscuits, chocolate, ketchup, Marmite, crisps, brown sauce, beer, cornflakes and baked beans.

I think the rations are being taken as a psychological ‘comfort blanket’.

Psychology professor Cary Cooper

Psychology professor Cary Cooper, of Lancaster University, said: “If people are going somewhere where the food and water are known to cause problems, then to take their own provisions is a sensible thing to do.

“But when the destinations are places like Spain or France, where the food is perfectly OK, then I think the rations are being taken as a psychological ‘comfort blanket’.

“These provisions are likely to be taken by those who are quite insecure and unsure about travelling and also not quite sure what they will find when they reach their destinations.”

However, many will see stocking up on provisions as a sensible precaution. The survey reveals more than a quarter of Britons claim to have suffered food poisoning while on holiday abroad, with the average sufferer being laid up for two days.

The survey of 2,000 adults found that Spain was the country where most Britons fell ill, with 23 per cent of those polled feeling unwell there, with Greece, Turkey and Egypt next on the list.

Vicky Watson, a spokeswoman for Halifax Travel Insurance, said: “Britons have become increasingly adventurous in recent years when it comes to eating out on their own doorstep. But for some reason, that attitude disappears for many when they head abroad.

“Tuck-box tourists are the type who fill their suitcases with familiar food brands from home rather than go out to sample the local delicacies.”

She said: “It is always a good idea to eat where the locals eat and seek recommendations from fellow tourists.

“And if you do plan to take food or alcohol, you should always check for possible importation bans.”