Experiencing food poisoning after dining out can be unpleasant and concerning. If you suspect a restaurant caused your illness, reporting it is crucial to protect public health. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of how to report a restaurant for food poisoning, ensuring your voice is heard and potential outbreaks are addressed.
If you believe your illness might be related to a foodborne outbreak affecting multiple individuals, immediately contact your local health department. You can also file an online foodborne illness report.
Gathering Information Before Reporting
Before you report a restaurant for food poisoning, gather as much information as possible. This will help investigators determine the source of the illness and take appropriate action. As with any detective work, information that answers the who, what, when, where, and how questions will be important when investigating the culprit of your illness and to determine whether or not a foodborne outbreak has occurred.
Key Details to Document:
- Symptoms: List all the symptoms you experienced, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps.
- Onset Time: Note the time when your symptoms started and how long they lasted.
- Food Consumption: Detail everything you ate at the restaurant, including specific dishes, ingredients, and beverages.
- Restaurant Information: Record the restaurant’s name, address, and date and time of your visit.
- Other Ill Individuals: If you know of anyone else who became ill after eating at the same restaurant, gather their contact information and details of their illness.
- Medical Attention: If you sought medical treatment, keep records of doctor visits, diagnoses, and lab results.
The “Last Meal Bias” Consideration
It’s easy to assume that the last meal you ate caused your illness. However, foodborne illnesses can take varying amounts of time to develop. While some toxins can cause illness within 30 minutes, others may take up to 72 hours (3 days) or longer. Therefore, consider all the food items you consumed over the previous few days when trying to identify the source of your food poisoning.
Contact Doctor
Seek medical attention if you experience severe symptoms. Consult with your healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment.
Reporting Channels and Processes
There are several ways to report a restaurant for food poisoning. The most common methods include:
1. Contacting Your Local Health Department
Your local health department is the primary agency responsible for investigating foodborne illness outbreaks. Contact them directly to report your case. You can usually find contact information for your local health department on your city or county government website. When you think something you ate made you sick (and possibly others), fill out all of the questions completely to capture as much information as possible to send to your local health department. The health department will examine your report, investigate if needed, and capture real-time information about what is going on in your community.
2. Using Online Reporting Systems
Many health departments have online reporting systems for foodborne illnesses. These systems allow you to submit detailed reports electronically.
Information to Provide in Your Report:
Your local health department will need basic information to begin the investigation. As with any detective work, information that answers the who, what, when, where, and how questions will be important when investigating the culprit of your illness and to determine whether or not a foodborne outbreak has occurred. The more information we get, the faster we can solve your case! Keep these questions in mind when you report your suspected foodborne illness:
- How many people are sick?
- What are the symptoms of illness?
- When did the illness begin and how long did it last?
- Are people still becoming sick?
- What did the ill people eat?
- How many people were potentially exposed?
3. Contacting the Restaurant Directly
While not a formal reporting method, informing the restaurant about your experience can be helpful. They may be able to identify potential issues and take corrective actions. However, reporting to the health department is still essential for official investigation and tracking.
What Happens After You File a Report?
Once you submit a foodborne illness report, the following steps typically occur:
- Review and Follow-Up: The health department will review your report and may contact you for additional information.
- Investigation: If warranted, health officials will investigate the restaurant. This may include inspections, food sample collection, and interviews with staff and other customers.
- Outbreak Detection: Health officials will look for trends in other foodborne illness reports to see if there are commonalities that might suggest an outbreak has occurred.
- Corrective Actions: If a food safety violation is identified, the health department will work with the restaurant to implement corrective actions, such as improved hygiene practices, employee training, and equipment repairs.
The goal is to get the information quickly from you, the consumer, and act quickly to prevent others from becoming sick.
The Importance of Laboratory Testing
Additionally, when a foodborne illness outbreak is first suspected, the germ that caused people to become sick is likely unknown. The identification of that germ by laboratory testing is a critical piece of the puzzle that will help focus the investigation. If you are ill with symptoms that you believe may be associated with an outbreak, it is recommended you see your doctor so that samples (like a stool specimen) can be collected for laboratory testing; alternatively, your health department may request to collect specimens from you. To learn more about foodborne disease causing germs, please browse our foodborne disease data page, which provides a list of fact sheets on many foodborne illness germs.
Protecting Public Health Through Reporting
Reporting a restaurant for food poisoning is not just about seeking compensation for your illness. It’s about protecting public health and preventing others from experiencing similar health issues. By reporting suspected foodborne illnesses, you help health officials identify potential outbreaks and take necessary actions to ensure food safety.
Last Updated: November 7, 2024
