Office of Food Protection

What is foodborne illness?
Foodborne illness is any illness that may result from eating a contaminated food or drinking a contaminated beverage. Food may be contaminated with bacteria, viruses, parasites, toxins and chemicals. Typical symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps. The elderly, very young, and immunocompromised (weakened immune system) are more at risk of foodborne illness.

The common myth regarding foodborne illness is that the last meal one ate made them sick. However, some symptoms are not present until days or even up to a couple of months after consuming the food in question. This is why it is important that you provide the Health Department with at least a 3-day food history if you suspect you have a foodborne illness.

Who should I call if I suspect I have a foodborne illness?
If you suspect that you have a foodborne illness, contact the Rhode Island Department of Health, Office of Food Protection at (401) 222-2750. After hours, please call (401) 272-5952. You will be asked questions regarding your illness and the foods that you ate within the last 72 hours. This may require up to 10 minutes of your time, and the information that you provide is kept confidential.

What happens next?
The Office of Food Protection will review the information provided to determine if it is necessary to conduct an investigation, which would include visiting the food establishment in question. If an investigation is warranted, the Office of Food Protection will work closely with the Office of Communicable Diseases and the Division of Laboratories to determine what was responsible for the illness.

Should I contact my physician?
Because vomiting and diarrhea can lead to dehydration if fluid loss exceeds the intake of fluids and salts, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends contacting your physician if any of the following are present along with diarrhea:

• High fever (temperature over 101.5 F, measured orally)

• Blood in the stools

• Prolonged vomiting that prevents keeping liquids down (which can lead to dehydration)

• Signs of dehydration, including a decrease in urination, a dry mouth and throat, and feeling dizzy when standing up.

• Diarrheal illness that lasts more than 3 days

Where can I get more information?
The following links will direct you to websites with additional information on foodborne illness:

• CDC's Foodborne Illness: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/foodborneinfections_g.htm#riskiestfoods
• FDA's Bad Bug Book: http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~mow/intro.html
• FDA's Foodborne Illness: http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~mow/foodborn.html