Find out more about what to do if you suspect you have food poisoning, how it can be prevented and more.
Food poisoning is an illness caused by bacterium such as salmonella and campylobacter.
The symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea or abdominal pain.
Food-borne diseases including viruses are similar to food poisoning and have similar symptoms.
It can take time for the infection to develop inside the gut (typically 12-36 hours), so it may be caused by food eaten the day before or several days ago.
If you feel you are suffering from the symptoms of food poisoning, you should visit your doctor who can arrange for a stool sample to be sent to a laboratory for testing.
If it is confirmed as food poisoning, the doctor will notify us and the United Kingdom Health Protection Agency (UKHSA) if they suspect an outbreak or a link to a food business.
If you wish to report an incident of suspected food poisoning relating to premises, the following information is required:
Name and address of the premises where the food was prepared.
Date and time the food was eaten.
The type of food you have eaten
We investigate food complaints, outbreaks of food poisoning and carry out food hygiene inspections.
We are also responsible for monitoring food hygiene and safety in food premises in South Staffordshire.
You can report food complaints to us by emailing env.commercial@sstaffs.gov.uk
The Food Standards Agency provides food hygiene advice for cooking at home and when eating out.
