(Lebanon, N.H – March 17, 2026) – Despite widespread awareness of health risks tied to certain foods and tap water abroad, many travelers continue to engage in behaviors that increase the likelihood of illness, according to the Global Rescue Winter 2026 Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey. The findings reveal meaningful differences by gender and residency, with men and non-US survey respondents generally more willing to trust local conditions than women and US survey-takers.

Tap water exposure remains one of the most common risk areas. Overall, 44% of travelers say they are most likely to brush their teeth with tap water in a foreign country, making it the most common accidental exposure. Another 30% report drinking beverages with ice added, while 9% say they consume drinks diluted with local water such as juice or cocktails. Smaller shares report rinsing their mouth in the shower (6%) or drinking a glass of tap water directly (2%).

US-based respondents and non-US respondents show distinct patterns. Half of non-US respondents say they brush their teeth with tap water, compared with 43% of US travelers. US travelers are more likely to consume drinks with ice (33%) than non-US travelers (20%). Men are significantly more likely than women to brush their teeth with tap water, at 56% versus 40%, while women are more likely than men to drink beverages with ice made from tap water (36% compared with 15%).

“Water safety boils down to the local area where travelers are staying,” warns Jeff Weinstein, a paramedic and medical operations manager for Global Rescue. “Assumptions about water quality can vary widely from place to place, even within the same country.”

Food-related trust presents similar risk tolerance. Nearly half of all travelers, 49%, say they trust freshly cooked hot food from a street vendor the most when faced with risky food choices during travel. All other options trail far behind, including street-vended fruits or snacks (7%), fresh salads or leafy greens (6%), and food purchased during peak crowds or festivals (6%). Sushi or ceviche, runny or soft-cooked eggs and buffet foods with unclear temperature control each draw trust from fewer than 5% of respondents.

Non-US travelers are more trusting of street food overall, with 53% selecting freshly cooked hot food from a street vendor compared with 49% of US travelers. Non-US respondents are also more likely to trust fresh salads or leafy greens, 11% versus 5% among US travelers. Men and women show similar levels of trust in street-vended hot food, but women (10%) are more likely to trust food purchased during peak crowds or festivals compared to men (6%).

“When you travel to a place that’s new to you, there are a lot of germs your body is not used to,” Weinstein said. “Something like traveler’s diarrhea or a really bad case of food poisoning can become an emergency.”

Dan Richards, CEO of The Global Rescue Companies and a member of the US Travel and Tourism Advisory Board at the US Department of Commerce, said the findings underscore a persistent gap between knowledge and behavior. “Most travelers understand, in theory, that food and water safety matters, but convenience and familiarity often override caution,” Richards said. “These results show why pre-travel medical and risk guidance remains critical, especially for travelers heading to regions with different sanitation standards.”

Richards added that differences between men and women, and between US and non-US travelers, point to varying risk perceptions. “Men and non-US travelers tend to accept higher levels of risk, while women and US travelers are generally more cautious, but no group is immune from making risky choices when traveling,” he said.

About the Global Rescue Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey

Global Rescue, the leading travel risk and crisis response provider, surveyed more than 1,400 current and former members between January 13 – 17, 2026. Respondents shared their attitudes, behaviors and preferences related to travel safety, technology and global mobility.

About Global Rescue

Global Rescue is the world’s leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services to enterprises, governments and individuals. Founded in 2004, Global Rescue maintains exclusive relationships with the Johns Hopkins Emergency Medicine Division of Special Operations and Elite Medical Group. The company has provided medical and security support during every major global crisis over the past two decades.