If staying in a hotel, purchase bottled water. Other fruits and vegetables should be soaked in a chlorine or iodine solution for 15 minutes. Meat from the local markets has been exposed to dirt and flies. It should be rinsed well, allowed to dry and cooked very thoroughly. Local milk and cheese should not be consumed as they have not been pasteurized.
Some stores sell long-life milk and cheese, all of which are considered safe.
Also be aware of problematic snacks at receptions such as cream-filled pastries, especially in the summer months. Turkmenistan has an unusually arid, hot climate, with summer temperatures reaching 120-130 for weeks at a time. The intense heat, combined with the dryness, causes perspiration to evaporate very quickly. It is therefore essential that you drink at least two liters of water every day.