Has food made you sick?
If food has made you sick, contact your nearest public health unit.
Reporting food poisoning – who you should contact
Foodborne illness – or food poisoning – is the name for illness caused by eating or drinking contaminated food or drink. Most is caused by harmful bacteria getting into food. If you, your family or friends feel unwell, seek medical attention from a doctor (your GP).
Symptoms and causes of food poisoning
If you suspect your illness is connected with food that has been purchased and eaten, you should report this to the Public Health Unit at your local district health board promptly. It prevents further spread of the illness to others.
Public health contact details – Ministry of Health
Public Health Unit staff will assess your information and if there is evidence that the illness was caused by food, they will notify New Zealand Food Safety. All notifications are monitored, assessed and investigated if appropriate. If there are complaints about the same type of food, food business, or group of people who feel unwell, New Zealand Food Safety may investigate further. If you have notified your Public Health Unit already, contact them if you have any further questions.
Letting us know
Contact your Public Health Unit first. New Zealand Food Safety is unable to follow up any complaints of suspected foodborne illness without a referral from a public health unit.
If you have any other concerns around the food related to your illness, such as the cleanliness of the premises, or foreign objects, let us know by completing this form.
