How to Report Food Poisoning: Step-by-Step Guide 2025

Experiencing nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea after eating? Reporting food poisoning fast helps prevent further illness and protects public health. This guide explains how to report effectively and what to expect.

Understand Symptoms and When to Act

Food poisoning symptoms often appear within hours to days after consuming contaminated food. Common signs include stomach cramps, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and nausea. Most cases resolve within 24–48 hours, but severe or persistent symptoms require medical attention. If you have bloody stools, high fever, or signs of dehydration like dizziness or dry mouth, seek help immediately.

Step-by-Step: Reporting Food Poisoning

1. Document Your Illness: Write down when symptoms started, what you ate in the past 48–72 hours, and any other details like food packaging or restaurant name. This information is crucial for health officials.
   
2. Contact Your Doctor: Visit a clinic or urgent care center. Mention suspected food sources so they can assist with reporting. Doctors can confirm illness and submit reports to public health agencies.
   
3. File a Report Through Official Channels:
   
   • In the U.S., use the FDA’s MedWatch program at fda.gov/medwatch.
     
   • In Australia, report via the TGA’s Thoroughgo system at tga.gov.au/report.
     
   • The UK’s Food Standards Agency accepts reports at food.gov.uk/report.
     
   • Many countries offer dedicated hotlines or online portals—check local health websites.
     
4. Follow Up: After reporting, keep tracking symptoms. If they worsen or last more than 3 days, seek further medical review.

Supporting Keywords and LSI Terms

• Foodborne illness
  
• Report foodborne illness
  
• Safe food handling
  

Food poisoning prevention relies heavily on timely reporting and accurate data sharing. Public health authorities depend on timely input to track outbreaks, identify contaminated sources, and issue warnings. By following proper reporting steps, individuals help protect communities and support faster responses. Always prioritize medical advice if symptoms are severe—your health matters. If you suspect food contamination, report it without delay to prevent wider spread and protect your loved ones.