Food poisoning, also referred to as food-borne illness, sickens 76 million people every year in the United States, according to MedlinePlus. Food poisoning is caused by bacteria, viruses and parasites and causes symptoms that include cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever and dehydration. Food contamination can happen in your home and at packaging and distribution facilities or at commercial locations like grocery stores and restaurants. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends reporting incidents of food-borne illness to your local health department so they can investigate potential issues with food production, distribution and preparation.
Step 1
Write down the information required for a food poisoning report, including the food and where it was purchased or eaten. Include the date and time you ate the food and the time your symptoms began. List your symptoms and those of others who had the same food and symptoms. Add information related to health care you received for the incident.
Step 2
Contact your state public health department office for contact information for your local or county public health department office. FoodSafety.gov provides links on its website to state public health departments.
Step 3
Call your city, county or state public health department office to report a food poisoning incident. According to FoodSafety.gov, local public health agencies investigate most food poisoning incidents as local events. Regional or state-wide food poisoning incidents are investigated by state public health offices and federal agencies get involved when incidents involve large numbers of people or multiple states.
Step 4
File a report with your city, county or state public health office about food poisoning incidents related to food purchased at stores restaurants located in your state. If the store or restaurant is not located in your state of residence, contact the state or regional public health department where the store or restaurant is located or contact the federal public health department office.
Step 5
File a consumer complaint about food poisoning involving meat, poultry or eggs with the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-674-6854, and about food poisoning involving other foods with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration at 866-300-4374. You may also contact your state's FDA consumer complaint coordinator. The Food and Drug Administration provides links on its website to state coordinators.
Things You'll Need
- Paper
- Pencil
