| What is food poisoning? | | | | What to do if you think you have been affected by |
| Food poisoning is an intense illness which is caused by | | | | food poisoning. |
| eating food that is contaminated with bacteria. It is | | | | You should seek medical advice immediately. You |
| a ‘catch all' term for many types of bacterial gut | | | | should keep a note of when and where you |
| infections, such as those caused by salmonella, listeria | | | | purchased and/or ate the food or drink you think |
| and e-coli. | | | | may have caused your illness, and also write down |
| | | | | anything else you have eaten. Keep your receipts, |
| How is it caused? | | | | the packaging and any of the food that you may still |
| The most common cause of food poisoning is | | | | have. |
| through eating food contaminated with bacteria; by | | | | If you believe that the food poisoning may have |
| not cooking, handling, preparing or storing food | | | | been caused by food bought from a food outlet |
| properly. | | | | then it is important to let the doctor know, so that |
| We eat food in many different places throughout the | | | | the environmental health department can be |
| day, so food poisoning could be contracted from a | | | | notified. The environmental health department will |
| meal served in a restaurant or cafe, a product from | | | | often then carry out an inspection and also try to |
| a shop or stand or any other outlet. When we | | | | find out if any other people have been affected. |
| decide to eat in a restaurant, or buy a sandwich from | | | | The Food Standards Agency estimate that every |
| a shop, we should be able to expect that the food | | | | year around 5.5 million people in the UK contract food |
| will be prepared and stored properly so that it is safe | | | | poisoning, yet less than 100,000 of these cases are |
| for us to eat. It makes sense for the owners of | | | | actually reported as the majority are not very |
| the business, and it is also a legal requirement. | | | | severe. A lot of people don't realise that if they |
| | | | | have contracted food poisoning from a food outlet, |
| What are the symptoms? | | | | and which is not their fault, then it is classed as a |
| There are several symptoms that can indicate a | | | | personal injury and you could make a claim for food |
| person may be suffering from food poisoning. They | | | | poisoning compensation. |
| are: | | | | |
| - Being sick | | | | How do I make a compensation claim if I've suffered |
| - Feeling sick | | | | from food poisoning? |
| - Stomach ache and cramps | | | | If your doctor confirms that you are suffering from |
| - Tiredness | | | | food poisoning, you may be able to make a claim for |
| - Diarrhoea and/or an upset stomach | | | | compensation for the pain and suffering that you |
| - A high temperature | | | | have been caused, and perhaps for any earnings that |
| - Aching muscles | | | | you have lost as a result of not being able to go to |
| - Shivering and sweating alternately. | | | | work while you were ill. |
| It is possible for these symptoms to be caused by | | | | In order to begin a claim, then you need to contact a |
| other illnesses so if you are experiencing any of them | | | | competent solicitor who specialises in personal injury |
| it is important to be properly diagnosed by a medical | | | | work. Check their credentials online, and get in |
| professional if you are worried. | | | | touch straight away; the longer you wait before |
| A person suffering from food poisoning may become | | | | starting your claim the harder it will be to trace the |
| ill within just a few hours of eating the contaminated | | | | source of the outbreak and others who have |
| food, but sometimes the symptoms do not begin to | | | | suffered. Do not approach the food outlet you |
| show until several days later, so it can often be | | | | suspect caused your illness yourself, doing things |
| difficult to trace the source of the contamination. | | | | through a solicitor means that you are more likely to |
| | | | | get the full amount of compensation that you |
| | | | | deserve. |