Food/Water Safety - Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania

We stayed in Lithuania (Klaipeda) for a month each on two different occasions and have traveled through Estonia. We started using only bottled water, but it just became too much of a hassle and we gave up. We bought apples (probably came from another country) and other fruit from the grocery store and washed them, but didn't peel. We never got diarrhea. Having said that I realize that someone else may have had the opposite experience. Recommendations? Sorry, you'll have to decide for yourself. I wish you well and have a good trip.

Hey Tom, In the interest of good info for anyone reading this (actually the CDC says the same thing, see below) ..However, they say that about several other countries we've been to and haven't had any issues. So I was just interested in peoples actual experiences. Thanks from their site: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/estonia.aspx Be Careful about Food and Water Diseases from food and water are the leading cause of illness in travelers. Follow these tips for safe eating and drinking:
•Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially before eating. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand gel (with at least 60% alcohol). •Drink only bottled or boiled water, or carbonated (bubbly) drinks in cans or bottles. Avoid tap water, fountain drinks, and ice cubes. If this is not possible, learn how to make water safer to drink.

Galen, thanks so much for your reply. Wow that's alot of time in Klaipeda, I take it you liked that spot. We have a stop there on our itinerary. If the weather is nice we'd like to bike along the spit (we're an active family of 4). If you have any recommendations of good experiences you had while there (favorite restaurants, things to do etc..) please pass along if you have time. Very much appreciate any insight beyond all the travel books we're scouring at the moment.

In all of our travels including Estonia, Russia, we have gotten some type of food poisoning twice Paris and Munich. You can have problems anywhere but in general water and food is safe.

I wonder why a clinic would recommend that, because the CDC has no warnings about the water in those countries. Now if you're worried about coronary artery disease, that's a different story. Try the Cepelinai in Lithuania for a great example of artery-clogging splendor.

Interesting that they provide that warning to the public but say something different in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly (not as gruesome as it sounds, this it´s basically the CDC´s weekly summary of infectious disease trends for health care providers).

We went to Vilnius, Lithuania, Riga, Latvia and Tallinn Estonia for a few days each last year. We drank bottled water because it was easiest but we didn't brush our teeth any different. I also know (because he always does) that my boyfriend drank water after brushing his teeth from the faucets. No issues for either of us at all with anything. We didn't eat fresh fruit other than breakfast so I can't comment on that. We didn't have issues with St. Petersburg or Moscow either...except my boyfriend ingested some corn flakes cooked in peanut oil in Moscow and that didn't go over well but not related.

I've gone to Estonia and Latvia and had no problems whatsoever, but like others, have had problems in more Westernized countries. I recommend taking some Immodium or Pepto-Bismo tabs just in case...

Know these other posts are pretty old, but thought if anyone is still curious in 2013, I'd comment. Been in Estonia for over a week now and have traveled all over the western part of the country. Been drinking tap water and eating fresh fruit and veg :-) with no trouble. On our way to Riga tomorrow and then we're headed to Vilnius -- will update as we go...