Protecting families from contaminated food and water
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Protecting families from contaminated food and water
Posted in Our Blog on July 10, 2026
Food poisoning is never fun. I’ll just say it.
It sucks!
Whether it is vomiting, diarrhea, fever, or even worse. Nobody wants to think about it.
But what do you do if you happen to get sick from restaurant or store-bought food?
It could be tempting to just let the illness run its course. But there are other factors to consider.
But first, how do you know you have food poisoning?
Food poisoning is caused by consuming something contaminated with a germ that makes you sick.
Some germs make you sick right away. Even within hours of consuming something contaminated. Others, on the other hand, may take several weeks to appear.
The most common symptoms of food poisoning are digestive in nature.
Common symptoms of food poisoning:
Severe symptoms warrant a call to your healthcare provider, as they may be an indication of developing complications that can be serious or life-threatening.
Signs of severe food poisoning:
Complications often occur when foodborne germs breach the intestinal wall through capillaries and enter the blood stream. From there, they can infect other parts of the body and cause serious or life-threatening illnesses.
While most normally healthy people get sick and recover on their own without medical intervention. Some people develop complications.
Food poisoning complications can put you in the hospital. Or worse. For some never recover from their illness.
Food poisoning complications may include:
Some of these complications may last for weeks or even months after other foodborne illness symptoms subside. For some, permanent damage may occur.
Certain groups of people are at higher risk of becoming sick if exposed to foodborne germs or experience more severe symptoms if infected.
Those at higher risk often include:
These individuals should seek medical care right away if they begin experiencing food poisoning symptoms.
Any germ that contaminates food and makes you sick can be considered a “food poisoning germ.” However, certain germs are more associated with foodborne illness than others.
Common food poisoning germs include:
If you get sick from restaurant or store-bought food, there are a few steps you can take to help yourself and others who may be having a similar experience.
If you or a family member begin to experience food poisoning symptoms, contact your health care provider for advice. Especially if you are in the higher-risk group.
Your health care provider may request laboratory tests to properly diagnose your illness. If you never reach out to your healthcare provider, your sample may never be tested for foodborne illness germs. Data that may be used to help uncover the source of a foodborne outbreak, if you are a part of one.
If you or a family member begin to experience food poisoning symptoms, even if you do not want to reach out to your healthcare provider, you can still report your illness to your local public health department.
Most of the time, you can find their number on the agency’s website.
Reporting your foodborne illness can help investigators uncover the source of a foodborne outbreak, if you are a part of one. They may request a sample from you, but they will certainly ask for a list of the foods you consumed prior to becoming sick.
I know it sounds gross. Pooping in a cup. Especially if you are experiencing digestive symptoms.
But know that you are pooping in a cup for the greater good.
You may not be experiencing severe symptoms. But someone who is at higher risk may become sick if the source is not identified promptly. Someone who is pregnant may have serious complications with their pregnancy or risk harm to their newborn if the source is not identified promptly.
If requested, provide a stool sample.
Your aunt’s neighbor’s grandmother’s best friend will thank you!
If you or a family member begin to experience food poisoning symptoms, it is time to break out the handy dandy notepad, notebook, notes app, or word processing document.
You are going to want to make a list.
Write down all of the foods and beverages you consume in the week prior to becoming sick. Include where you got it from, where you ate it, and a list of the ingredients if you can.
Write down the symptoms you have experienced and when they started.
Do this as early as possible so that the information can be complete and accurate. This information will be compared to other sick people with the same illness you have. Overlaps in patient food data can help investigators track down a source more quickly.
The Lange Law Firm, PLLC specializes in food poisoning and Legionnaires’ disease cases. They are experienced in foodborne illness litigation and have the knowledge and tools to help you through this difficult situation.
They have won millions of dollars in product liability and foodborne illness cases, and they can help you receive the justice you deserve.
If you get food poisoning from restaurant or store-bought food, call The Lange Law Firm, PLLC for a free, no obligation consultation to go over the details of your situation. Call today at (833) 330-3663 or fill out the online submission form.
By: Heather Van Tassell (contributing writer, non-lawyer)