Food poisoning

Food poisoning is an illness caused by eating or drinking contaminated food or water, and can be caused by a range of different bacteria (germs).

Food poisoning can affect everybody however it is more likely to affect people with lowered resistance to illness such as the elderly, babies, young children and pregnant women.

Officers from the Food and Environmental Safety Service investigate all confirmed cases of food poisonings.

General food posioining information is available on the attached leaflet.

Viruses

Viruses can cause vomiting and diarrhoea and are highly infectious.  They can spread very easily from person to person or through the air.  They are not generally spread in food.  Symptoms tend to start very quickly and usually consist of violent vomitting which may be followed by diarrhoea.  Symptoms tend to resolve within 24-48 hours and people will often refer to these as '24 hour bugs'.