Food Poisoning and Infectious Diseases

The Borough Council's Environmental Protection Unit deals with preventing and investigating infectious diseases including food poisoning. Food poisoning is a great master of disguise; headaches and nausea are often put down to a virus, but in many cases this is mild food poisoning, caused by tiny living organisms called bacteria and viruses.

Your doctor will provide faecal specimen kits in cases of suspected food poisoning. These specimens will be used to identify the type of food poisoning involved.

In some cases of food poisoning an Environmental Protection Officer might need to visit you to complete an investigation questionnaire. The officer's aim is to:

1. Find out what foods might have made you ill;
2. Investigate any commercial premises such as restaurants or cafes that might be involved and to provide advice on food hygiene in the home;
3. Prevent the further spread of food poisoning.

• Causes of food poisoning - Food poisoning is usually caused by eating food that contains certain types of bacteria or viruses (germs). After the food is eaten, these living micro-organisms continue to grow, causing an infection. Foods can also cause illness if they contain a poison produced by bacteria growing in the food.
• Common types of food poisoning - There are many different types of food poisoning, each with slightly different symptoms, incubation periods and duration. Some of the more common ones are described below.

1. Campylobacter & salmonella - These two similar groups of bacteria are normally found in animals such as cattle and poultry, and egg products.
2. Cryptosporidiosis - is a parasite found in the body, and in many other mammals, birds and reptiles. It multiplies in the intestines and excretes what are known as oocysts in the faeces of the host. These oocysts carry within them the infective form and when ingested by another animal they can transmit the disease.

• Further information - If you would like further information or advice on food poisoning, infectious disease or food safety matters, please click on the links below:

Health Protection Agency (HPA) - Infectious Disease Information

Foodlink

Food Safety and Hygiene

or

1. Phone 0151 356 6457 / 6653
2. Click on the link and complete the form :- Environmental Protection - Food Safety and Hygiene - enquiry / complaint form
3. Write to:
   Environmental Protection Unit
   Council Offices
   4 Civic Way
   Ellesmere Port
   Cheshire
   CH65 0BE