Food poisoning advice. What should I do if I have food poisoning?

Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 30 May 2004 - 4:00 PDT


Common symptoms of food poisoning include nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps and diarrhoea. Sometimes, you might also develop a fever. Other illnesses, medicines and excessive alcohol can cause similar symptoms to food poisoning.

What should I do if I have food poisoning?

There are three main things to consider when you are ill:

-- rehydration - drink plenty of fluids and perhaps use rehydration powders available from pharmacies

-- medical assistance - if you are concerned about your health or the health of someone else, contact NHS Direct (0845 4647) or your GP for advice (especially in the case of pregnant women, elderly people, children and people who are already ill)

-- reporting - if you think that your illness was caused by food prepared outside the home, report the incident to your local environmental health service

Why is it important to report food poisoning?

If you think your illness has been caused by food from a restaurant or other food business, the local environmental health department needs to know so it can investigate the business in question. If the environmental health officers find a problem with the business's food hygiene practices, and get the business to improve them, this could help prevent other people suffering from food poisoning.

Food Standards Agency, UK

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