Know the Symptoms

About Foodborne Illness: Know the Symptoms.

Consuming dangerous foodborne bacteria will usually cause illness within 1 to 3 days of eating the contaminated food. However, sickness can also occur within 20 minutes or up to 6 weeks later. Although most people will recover from a foodborne illness within a short period of time, some can develop chronic, severe, or even life-threatening health problems. Foodborne illness can sometimes be confused with other illnesses that have similar symptoms. The symptoms of foodborne illness can include:

• Vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.
• Flu-like symptoms, such as fever, headache, and body ache.

• Take Action !!

If you think that you or a family member has a foodborne illness, contact your healthcare provider immediately. Also, report the suspected foodborne illness to FDA in either of these ways:

• Contact the Consumer Complaint Coordinator in your area.
• Contact MedWatch, FDA’s Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program:
  • By Phone: 1-800-FDA-1088.
  • Online: File a voluntary report at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch