Foodborne Illness Reporting

Information for Consumers

Tacoma Pierce County Health Department takes all citizen complaints regarding foodborne illness and food safety seriously. If you believe that you have become ill from something you ate we would like to know. Please call (253) 798-6460 and report it to the Food Program or complete the Complaint Reporting Form.

Knowing the illness symptoms and when they occurred are critical to being able to determine the cause of the illness. In addition, knowing what and where you ate for the 5 days before you became ill will help us determine the cause of the illness. There is a common misconception that the last food item that you ate made you sick. While this can be true, most bacteria and viruses require longer incubation periods. Be sure that you write down when your symptoms occurred and your 5 day food history so you don't forget. If you have a serious case of foodborne illness seek medical attention first.

Information for Restaurants

Food service workers, managers and owners should consider all reports of possible foodborne illness legitimate and notify the Health Department immediately. Download the Foodborne Illness Reporting Fact Sheet to use as a reference when gathering information related to a possible foodborne illness.