Food poisoning

You can get food poisoning by eating food contaminated by bacteria, such as salmonella or Escherichia coli (E. coli), or a virus, such as the norovirus.

Food poisoning symptoms usually begin one to three days after eating contaminated food, these symptoms include:

• feeling sick
• vomiting
• diarrhoea
• stomach cramps

What you can do

You should visit your GP who will contact us and Public Health England if a food business link is suspected.

If you work in a food business, you should not handle open food for at least 48 hours after your last bout of sickness or diarrhoea. You should also contact the food team to discuss when it would be safe for you to return to handling food. Your employer may choose to move you to different duties.

Food poisoning and work or school

Most people can return to work or school 48 hours after the diarrhoea has stopped. Food handlers, health care workers and children in day care must obtain the approval of Environmental Health before returning to work.

For more information about food poisoning, symptoms and causes, go to the NHS Choices website.

What we can do

We investigate food complaints, outbreaks of food poisoning and carry out food hygiene inspections. We also monitor food hygiene and safety in food premises in Thurrock.