Food safety - illness and contamination
Complaints about the hygiene of food premises
If you are concerned about food handling practices or standards
of cleanliness, in any food business in the Rochdale area then you
can contact the Food Safety Team.
All complaints are dealt with anonymously and once a complaint
has been received an officer from the food safety team will
investigate the complaint and let you know of the outcome.
As part of our investigation we can inspect food premises, take
photographs, interview proprietors and take statements from
employees. In most cases food hygiene complaints can be dealt with
informally but occasionally our investigation results in a
prosecution if the matter is serious and there is sufficient
evidence.
If there is an imminent risk of injury to health we can close a
premises until the problems are dealt with.
Bringing a food complaint to the Council
The Food Safety Team will investigate complaints about food
purchased within the Rochdale area.
The Food Safety Team cannot get a refund for your food and it is
your decision as to whether to pursue the food complaint through
the Food Safety Team or to return it to the place of purchase for
the supplier to carry out an investigation. We also do not arrange
for compensation but you may be able to pursue a civil claim.
If you allow us to investigate your complaint we will not be
able to return the food to you.
If possible you should make arrangements with the Food Safety
Team when to bring the complaint into us. If you cannot bring the
food complaint to us straight away, store it appropriately
(perishable foods may be placed in a clean plastic bag and frozen).
Make a note of the time you discovered the problem and what you
did, and then bring the food complaint to us as soon as possible.
If you are unable to bring it to our offices please make
arrangements with the office to bring the complaint to us as soon
as possible. Please do not send food samples in the
post. If you have it, bring it with you any supporting
evidence (for example, packaging and till receipts).
Deciding whether the complaint requires further investigation is
based on the risk to health and need for public protection. As part
of our investigation we may seize or detain food and have it
analysed. We can inspect food premises, interview proprietors and
take statements from employees. For this reason a food complaint
may take several months to process but we will keep you informed of
our progress and advise you of the outcome
Food poisoning
How to know if you have food poisoning
Symptoms can include one or more of the following:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- High temperature
- Stomach pain.
The types of symptoms that a person can have depend upon the
cause of the illness eg food poisoning bacteria, parasite, bacteria
or a virus.
What to do if you become ill
- It is always recommended that you visit your GP who can take a
stool sample to test what was the cause of the infection and may
prescribe treatment if necessary. This is particularly important
for young children, the elderly and those people whose immune
system may be lowered.
- If you work and your job involves handling food or dealing with
vulnerable people, you should inform your employer of your illness
and symptoms. You should stay away from work (or be assigned low
risk activities) until at least 48 hours after symptoms have
stopped.
- Whilst you still have symptoms you should drink plenty of
fluids to prevent dehydration.
How to stop it spreading
Things you can do to stop other people in your household
becoming ill include:
- Try not to prepare/handle food. Ask a friend or family member
to help preparing meals
- Thoroughly washing hands with hot soapy water and drying them
properly after using the toilet, before eating and drinking
- Daily cleaning and disinfecting of the toilet seat, bowl and
handle, taps and door handles
- The person who is ill should have their own towel which no-one
else can use
- Any surfaces which have had contact with diarrhoea or vomit
should be cleaned and disinfected
- In the event of clothing/linens becoming soiled, as much vomit
or faeces should be removed before washing on a hot wash in the
washing machine
- Plastic gloves and protective clothing should be worn when
cleaning any soiled areas/linens and hands should be thoroughly
washed afterwards.
For further advice on food poisoning or gastro-intestinal
illness, contact the Environmental Health Team or NHS Direct.