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Food Poisoning and Food Related Illnesses
Certain infectious diseases are notifiable to the Health Authority and these are investigated by the consultant in communicable disease control (CCDC) or by officers of the Local Authority. We investigate food poisoning and certain other food borne illnesses which are notifiable.
The purpose of this investigation is to try to prevent the spread of illness within the community and to try and establish possible causes. Advice is also given to the patient on how to prevent the spread of disease within the home.
Many different sorts of bacteria (germs) can cause food borne illness. When food is kept warm, these bacteria can grow rapidly and reach dangerous levels within hours. The numbers of cases of food borne illness have increased dramatically over the past few years, particularly during the summer months. Good food hygiene standards in industry and the home are vital to prevent food borne illness.
The incubation period (time taken from eating the food to feeling unwell) varies with each type of organism and in some cases can be up to 10-15 days after consumption of the food. It is important to realise therefore, that the last meal you ate may not be the cause of your symptoms.
The main causes of food poisoning and food borne illness are:
- Preparing foods too far in advance
- Not cooking foods properly
- Not defrosting foods correctly
- Storing foods incorrectly (i.e. too warm) so that bacteria can grow quickly
- Cross contamination of foods after cooking
- Infection from people handling foods due to poor hygiene
Who is at risk?
We all are, but babies, young children and the elderly can very quickly become very ill when infected. Pregnant women, people who already have a pre-existing illness, and anyone whose immune system is weakened can also be seriously affected by food borne illness.
What are the main symptoms of food borne illness/food poisoning?
- Diarrhoea
- Stomach cramps
- Vomiting
- Fever
- Nausea
- Headache
- Dizziness
The 'Facts About ...' leaflets in this section cover a wide range of food related illness and try to answer some of the questions you might have about a particular infection; including what it is and where it may have come from, etc.
- The Facts About Campylobacter (87K pdf)
- The Facts About Cryptosporidium (80K pdf)
- The Facts About Dysentery (75K pdf)
- The Facts About E-Coli (83K pdf)
- The Facts About E-Coli O157 (36K pdf)
- The Facts About Gardia Lamblia (81K pdf)
- The Facts About Listeria (81K pdf)
- The Facts About Salmonella (83K pdf)
- The Facts About Staphylococcus Aureus (80K pdf)
- The Facts About Viral Gastro Enteritis (83K pdf)
Prevention
Follow the Department's Top Ten Tips to try and reduce food borne illness:
- Wash hands thoroughly before handling food and always after handling raw meat, going to the toilet, blowing your nose or handling animals (including pets)
- Keep food preparation surfaces and utensils clean and disinfected (e.g. anti-bacterial)
- Prepare and store raw meat and 'ready-to-eat' food separately. Always keep raw and defrosting meat at the base of the refrigerator, below everything else
- Ensure that your refrigerator and freezer are operating properly - invest in a suitable thermometer. The refrigerator should operate at 5 degrees C or lower and the freezer at minus 18 degrees C or lower
- Check the 'Use by' dates on food and ensure that you use the food before the date expires
- Always store eggs in the refrigerator and do not eat food containing uncooked eggs
- Keep pets away from food and food preparation surfaces
- Defrost food, particularly meat and poultry thoroughly before cooking
- Cook food thoroughly. Follow the manufacturers' guidelines and ensure that food is piping hot throughout before consumption
- Cool food immediately after cooking and never allow it to be at room temperature for more than four hours. Always store leftover food in the refrigerator as soon as it has cooled to room temperature
What to do if you have symptoms of food borne illness
Food borne illness can spread quickly, partly because everyone in the family could have eaten the same food and partly because the bacteria may be picked up by close family contact (e.g. nursing the sick). Viruses can also cause illness, similar to food poisoning and they also spread very quickly. If you suspect you are suffering food poisoning it is recommended that you visit your doctor as soon as possible, who might ask you to submit a sample for examination. Samples are useful in that they might be able to show which food-borne illness you are suffering from, or could rule out a food-poisoning organism. Viruses can also be detected. Consult your doctor immediately if the person affected is a baby, elderly or has an existing illness or condition or if symptoms are prolonged or severe (e.g. bloody diarrhoea).
If you or a member of your family are suffering from the symptoms of food poisoning, it is recommended that you follow the advice below to try and prevent the spread of the illness:
- Wash your hands after contact with the sick person, and before handling food
- Do not use the same towel or face cloth as someone who is suffering with food borne illness
- Clear up soiling accidents straightaway, wash with hot soapy water and disinfect with a disinfectant or bleach
- Disinfect door and toilet handles, taps and the toilet seat after use and disinfect the toilet bowl frequently
- Drink plenty of fluids while you are ill to prevent dehydration.
Investigating notifications of infectious diseases
We investigate notifications of infectious diseases (particularly food poisoning) from GPs, the public, businesses and other local authorities.
Once a food poisoning notification is received, we will contact the person with the symptoms and ask them questions regarding:
- What and where they've eaten prior to their illness
- Details of their symptoms
- Whether they've been on holiday abroad
- Whether or not their GP has taken a faecal sample and;
- Whether anybody else they ate with also experienced any symptoms. We may request that person to provide a faecal sample.
If a person with symptoms is a food handler or health care/nursery worker who has direct contact or contact through serving food, with highly susceptible patients or persons in whom an intestinal infection would have serious consequences, they cannot return to work until they are symptom-free for 48 hours. They must also inform their employer of their symptoms.
Parents or guardians of children aged under five years or children or adults unable to implement good standards of personal hygiene, are advised to keep them away from school or other establishments until they have also been symptom-free for 48 hours.
Food Poisoning Outbreaks
If a number of people ate at the same venue and have similar symptoms, this may be due to a food poisoning outbreak. 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) and
- inspecting the implicated venue.
If there is enough evidence implicating a food premises within the area as a possible source of the outbreak, we may decide to carry out a food hygiene inspection.
If you believe that you are suffering from food poisoning (i.e. sickness and diarrhoea) please contact us using the form below.
Relevant Legislation:
- Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984
- Public Health (Infectious Diseases) Regulations 1988