Notification of suspected food poisoning
Food sector operators must submit a notification to the municipal food control authority immediately when they
- find out that the food products handled by them have caused food poisoning
- suspect that the food products handled by them could cause food poisoning.
Handling of food products refers to producing, processing, selling, serving or providing foodstuffs.
The foodstuffs that are suspected to have caused food poisoning must not be disposed of and must be stored for examination.
Also drinking water related food poisoning and suspected food poisoning must be notified to the municipal food control authority.
Use the service
Requirements
The main responsibility for notifying the food poisoning or suspected food poisoning lies with the operator whose food product is involved or in whose premises the drinking water was served. However, anyone can submit a notification.
If the trader is established in another EEA state and provides services in Finland on a temporary basis, they are required to have the same permits as the traders established in Finland.
Instructions
Contact the health inspector for food control in the department of environmental services of Lappeenranta region. If necessary, the health inspector may take samples of suspected foodstuffs and, at their discretion, carry out an inspection in the establishment. Report the suspected food poisoning by email to the registry office of the environmental services or by calling the health inspector.
If your company receives a notification of suspected food poisoning from a customer, the company has a legal obligation to report it to food control. When you suspect that you have gotten food poisoning in Lappeenranta, Taipalsaari, Savitaipale, Luumäki or Lemi, from sold or served foodstuffs, notify the department of environmental services of Lappeenranta region, as soon as possible. A quick notification improves the chances of solving the matter.
When considering the cause of food poisoning, it is worth remembering that it usually takes a few hours or even several days from eating to the starting of the symptoms of food poisoning.
The starting of symptoms of food poisoning takes from a few hours to several days. Therefore, in addition to the most recently eaten meal, it is also a good idea to consider food eaten during the previous days. Also consider whether the meal/food you suspected was suspicious, whether there has been stomach flu or other symptoms in your family recently, or whether you have been abroad during the past month. Please provide this information as accurately as possible when making the notification.
Food poisoning or suspected food poisoning must be notified to the municipal food control authority immediately. You can submit a notification in the ilppa notification service.
In the notification, please specify at least
- what food product does the suspected food poisoning concern
- which operator’s food product does the suspected food poisoning concern
- what makes you suspect food poisoning.
If you have remains of the food product in question, store it properly. This way it can be examined to determine the cause of food poisoning.
Payment information
The service is free of charge.