Diseases and Food Poisoning

Our Role

Our aim is to identify and control sources of certain infectious diseases in order to protect public health.

Food poisoning means an illness that is due to either germs or toxins present in food or water. The most common symptoms include diarrhoea, vomiting and abdominal pain. When these symptoms are due to infection, the illness is called infectious intestinal disease (IID).

Not all cases of IID are due to contaminated food, many are caused by viruses that spread very quickly from one person to another. These types of infections are especially common in babies and young children who pick them up from other children at nurseries and playgroups. You can also catch the germs that cause IID from animals - both farm animals and your household pets. When IID is due to contaminated food, it is known as food borne disease. To find out more visit the Food Standards Agency website.

Anyone who has suffered from food poisoning knows how unpleasant it can be. But did you know that your doctor is required to notify the Council if any of his patients are suffering from food poisoning?

When we receive a notification of food poisoning, whether from a doctor or the victim, we may decide to carry out an investigation. The decision to investigate is influenced by the particular cause of the illness, the number of people affected, the severity of the illness, and any delay between the start of the illness and the receipt of the report. The quicker we are informed the more likely it is that we will be able to investigate.

If you wish to report a suspected case of food poisoning, please complete our on-line form as soon as possible.

Any investigation usually starts by interviewing the victim(s) to try and find out what they had to eat, when, and where they ate it. Many people assume that it was the last thing that they ate that made them ill. In fact it may be something eaten many days before. If you suspect that you are suffering from food poisoning please contact the Food Safety Team as soon as possible.

Like food poisoning there are a number of communicable or infectious diseases that a doctor must notify to the local authority. Some notifications may result in an investigation to:

identify persons who may need to seek medical advice (e.g. contacts of tuberculosis - TB)
ensure the distribution of information and guidance (e.g. meningitis)
ensure that immediate action is taken to eliminate a source of infection (e.g. legionnaires disease)

Vomiting (being sick), diarrhoea and nausea (feeling sick) may be caused by a number of reasons. However, sometimes these symptoms, perhaps along with others will be due to food poisoning or other diseases that may be spread to other people.

The following section explains some simple steps you can take to avoid suffering such illnesses, and what you should do if you are found to be suffering from one of them.

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Food Poisoning and Food-Borne Illness

Food poisoning occurs where certain germs are introduced into the body via food. These germs may themselves be poisonous and, if in sufficient numbers will cause a short sharp illness a few hours after eating the infected food. Vomiting is the most common symptom in this case.

Alternatively the germs may not produce their poisons until they are in the body. With this type of food poisoning, due to the time taken for the poison to be produced, symptoms may not occur for several days after the food is eaten. For example with salmonella this may occur up to 7 days afterwards. Diarrhoea is more typical of this type of food poisoning.

Water, where it is polluted (e.g. with sewage), may also act as a source of germs causing illness. Note: Treatment of our domestic water supplies prevents this being a source of such problems.

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How do I avoid food poisoning?

Whilst different types of germs and foodstuffs are associated with different types of illness, by following some simple rules you can help yourself and your families to stay safe:

Always store raw meat and poultry in a covered container at the bottom of the fridge so that it cannot drip onto other foods.
Ensure that your fridge is clean and operating between 0 and 4 degrees centigrade
Always defrost meat, fish and poultry thoroughly before cooking.
Cook food thoroughly and if reheating ensure it is piping hot before eaten.
If hot food is not to be eaten immediately cool it quickly (within 90 minutes and refrigerate).
Ensure that work surfaces, cloths, utensils and chopping boards are cleaned thoroughly (between use) especially after being used for raw meat, poultry or fish.
Keep any cuts/wounds covered with a waterproof dressing when preparing food.
Always wash salad before eating it to remove dirt.
Keep dogs, cats, etc. out of the kitchen when preparing food and always wash their bowls separately to yours.
Always wash your hands with soap and hot water before preparing food or handling a baby, after going to the toilet, after playing with pets, after changing nappies, caring for people suffering from diarrhoea or vomiting, handling soiled bedding, etc.
Never drink untreated water from lakes or streams as it may be polluted.

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What should I do if I have food poisoning?

Visit your GP and explain your symptoms. To confirm your illness he/she may ask you to submit a stool (faeces) or urine sample.
If you have a child who is suffering from diarrhoea never send him or her to nursery or school, etc. where they will come into close contact with other children. If the diarrhoea persists or if you are worried you should take the child to your GP for advice.
If you are a food handler or if you work with the sick, the old or the very young, you must not go to work. Inform your employer of your illness.

What happens next?

By law Environmental Health Departments are told by GPs and sometimes employers, of persons suffering from food poisoning and certain other illnesses. This is so that they can take any necessary action to prevent its spread and to try to identify what may have caused the problem. Consequently, they may contact you.

The sorts of things that are important are the types of symptoms you are suffering, when these symptoms started and what type of food you have eaten/activities you have been involved in prior to the symptoms. Again in some cases you (and other family members if it is suspected that they may also be suffering from the illness or be a 'carrier') will be asked to submit faecal (stool) or urine samples. A 'carrier' is someone who has the germs which cause the illness in his/her body without actually being or feeling ill.

By law you have to answer questions put to you by the Environmental Health Departments and to co-operate with the officer in his/her investigation.

How can you prevent passing the illness on?

In most of these types of illness the germs are passed on from the infected person in what is known as the 'faecal/oral' route. For example, if an infected person fails to wash their hands properly after going to the toilet and touches food, they will contaminate the food with the germs. If this food is then eaten by another person they too may contract the illness.

You can therefore prevent this from happening by:

Washing hands after using the toilet, changing nappies, attending to a patient and handling soiled bedding, etc.
Cleaning and disinfecting the toilet and flush handle, door handles, taps, etc. after use.
Washing hands before preparing food or handling a baby.
Keeping dirty laundry away from food and food surfaces.
Always double bag soiled disposable nappies before putting them in the dustbin and wash hands thoroughly after handling.

For more about these diseases, please see NHS Direct or Health Protection Agency.

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Repatriation of remains

On occassion bereaved relatives may wish to move the remains of a loved one from a cemetary in Bexley to another country. In these circumstances the country to which they are to be removed may require confirmation that there has not been a recenet epidemic of infectious disease within Bexley before thay will allow the transfer to occur. Any one needing such confirmation should apply in writing to:

Head of Environmental Health (Commercial)
Development and Public Protection Department
2A Hadlow Road
Sidcup
Kent
DA14 4Af
Fax: 020 8308 1300
Email: Infectiousdisease@bexley.gov.uk