What to do

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We get food poisoning from eating food that contains harmful bacteria, viruses or poisonous substances known as toxins.

The symptoms of food poisoning can vary, depending on what has caused it. Common symptoms include nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps and diarrhoea, and sometimes fever. The symptoms usually last for just a couple of days but, occasionally, food poisoning can be very serious and can even cause death. So make sure you avoid food poisoning with good food hygiene.

Find out how to avoid food poisoning

What should I do?

There are three main things to consider when you have food poisoning:

rehydration – drink plenty of fluids and perhaps use rehydration powders, which you can get from any pharmacy
stop the spread – wash your hands regularly, especially after going to the toilet and before preparing food. This will help stop the infection from spreading to other people. If possible, it’s best to avoid preparing food for anyone else. If you work with food, you must tell your manager if you have diarrhoea or vomiting.
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 (see Why is it important to report food poisoning? below).

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 stop other people suffering from food poisoning. Use the link below to get the contact details of the environmental health officer in the local area.