Food poisoning and infectious diseases

The Food, Health and Safety Team work withPublic Health England (opens new window) to investigate and manage confirmed or potential cases or outbreaks of food poisoning and infectious diseases.

Food poisoning outbreaks

If a number of people ate at the same venue and have the same food poisoning-type symptoms, this may be due to a Food Poisoning Outbreak.

Report a food complaint or problem.

Our investigation into the outbreak will involve:

• Interviewing people who are ill.
• Interviewing others who ate at the venue but didn't have symptoms.
• Taking faecal and food samples (if appropriate).
• Inspecting the implicated venue.

Where there is a food poisoning outbreak, our Food, Health and Safety Officers would follow up and investigate potential sources.

I think I have food poisoning

Depending on the severity of symptoms you are advised to:

• Self-medicate at home.
• Contact NHS Choices (opens new window).
• See your GP.

It is not advisable to return to work, school, other establishments until symptom free for 48 hours. Many establishments will already have their own exclusion policy in place for sickness and diarrhoea. Some types of infectious gastroenteritis caused by parasitic infection (such as cryptosporidium and giardia) require longer exclusion periods.

Visit the Food Standards Agency website for further information (opens new window).