Food poisoning
Food poisoning is a foodborne disease caused by bacteria, viruses or chemicals in food. The symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea or abdominal pain.
The time taken from infection to feeling unwell varies from around 6 hours up to 10 to 15 days depending on the type of infection. The last meal you ate may not be the cause of your food poisoning and food may not be the cause at all.
Who investigates food poisoning
We investigate the sources or cause of food poisoning and other water and food borne illnesses to prevent the spread of illness in our community.
Cases are often referred to us by GPs, hospital laboratories, the public and businesses.
What we investigate
We investigate food poisoning and other water and food borne illnesses. The main aim is to prevent the spread of illness and to work out possible causes.
Our steps
Once we are informed someone has food poisoning we contact them to ask questions. This includes finding out what foods they have eaten, where they have been, who they have been in contact with and what they were doing before they became ill
If there is an outbreak of suspected food poisoning we interview people who are ill and others who ate at the venue who do not have any symptoms, taking food and faecal samples and inspecting the food venue.
Infectious diseases
Certain infectious diseases are investigated by the UK Health Security Agency by Public Health Consultants.
Report food poisoning to us
You can suspected food poisoning to us by:
- email: foodandhealth@southglos.gov.uk
- phone: 01454 868001
What to do if you have food poisoning
If you suspect you have food poisoning you should:
- visit your doctor and request a stool sample to be analysed
- practise good personal hygiene
- wash your hands before handling food and after visiting the toilet
- disinfect door handles, taps and bathroom areas
- drink plenty of fluids to reduce dehydration
- let us know if you think your illness is caused by a food premises
Preventing food poisoning
Preventing food poisoning
You can reduce food borne illnesses by:
- wash hands thoroughly before handling food
- keep food preparation surfaces and utensils clean and disinfected
- prepare and store raw meat and other foods and ready to eat food separately
- make sure your fridge and freezer are operating properly with a suitable thermometer
- check the use by dates on food and make sure you use food before the date expires
- always store eggs in the fridge and do not eat food containing uncooked egg
- keep pets away from food and food preparation surfaces
- defrost food thoroughly before cooking
- cook food thoroughly and follow the manufacturers’ guidelines and make sure food is piping hot before eating
- cool food immediately after cooking and never allow it to be at room temperature for more than 4 hours then store leftover food in the fridge
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