Introduction to Food Poisoning 

When  Environmental Health is notified of a case of food poisoning, such as salmonella,  an investigation will be carried out.  In general terms the investigation seeks to establish the cause of the illness, to identify any premises within the District Council's area that may be involved, to identify any suspect food and to take whatever action is appropriate to prevent the spread of infection.  Sometimes officers will need to contact the patients directly, but often the information can be obtained by asking patients to complete a standard questionnaire.  The questionnaire asks the patient to describe the food that they have eaten in the period leading up to their illness and also for details about any food premises that they may have visited.  Investigating officers will also need to find out the patient's symptoms and also the patient's occupation, together with that of any other members of the household.  Depending upon the exact circumstances, patients or close family contacts who work in the food industry or in other high-risk occupations (residential care, nursing, childcare etc), may be asked to stay away from work until they have fully recovered from their symptoms.

Sometimes, officers will need to visit food premises that have been implicated.  Food handling staff will be interviewed and may be asked to provide faecal specimens for analysis.  In particular, Environmental Health staff will seek to identify any food handling staff who have had food poisoning type symptoms.  Any food handlers with symptoms will be excluded from food handling duties until the investigating officers are satisfied that they no longer present a public health risk.

Investigating officers will also attempt to trace the origin of any suspect food and determine whether similar problems have occurred elsewhere in the country.  Sometimes it will be necessary for them to work alongside other public health professionals to control large-scale outbreaks.