About...

The Food Safety Program investigates all complaints of illness. Investigations help us discover and correct problems in the food production and distribution system and prevent future illness. Consumers can help by reporting illnesses they suspect might be foodborne. There are hundreds of microorganisms and numerous chemicals that can cause illness through food or water. Any illness that is caused by eating contaminated food or water is considered a foodborne illness.

The onset of illness can be almost immediate or up to 70 days, depending on the cause. Some common symptoms are diarrhea, fever, vomiting, jaundice (yellow skin color) and sore throat with fever. For other food safety topics, go to Food Safety Program.

Program Services

The Food Safety Program investigates cases of foodborne illness by collecting and evaluating food histories from people, collecting samples for testing, and conducting inspections of licensed food facilities.

Information for Restaurants
Food service workers, managers and owners should consider all reports of possible foodborne illness legitimate and notify Columbus Public Health immediately. Click Here to view the Foodborne Illness Reporting Guidelines for Restaurants to use as a reference when gathering information related to a possible foodborne illness.

Information for Consumers
Columbus Public Health takes all citizen complaints regarding food borne illness and food safety seriously. If you believe that you have become ill from something you ate we would like to know. Please call 614-645-1791 and report it to Columbus Public Health.  You may also e-mail Columbus Public Health at health@columbus.gov with foodborne illness complaints.

Who Is The Program For?

Anyone who is a resident of the cities of Columbus or Worthington who believes they might have an illness that was transmitted through food should call and report.  A person does not have to be diagnosed by a physician to report an illness if they suspect the cause might be food or water. Groups of two or more people who live outside of Columbus that believe they were exposed to a foodborne illness within Columbus or Worthington should also report.

How To Use The Program

Any person who has symptoms or a positive lab report that might be a foodborne illness should contact the Columbus Public Health at (614) 645-1791 (Communicable Disease Division) or 645-7005 (Food Safety Program).  Columbus Public Healt staff will begin an investigation at that time.  Single cases of illness, family groups, and groups of co-workers will need to provide a history of the foods they have eaten in the three days prior to becoming ill. If possible a person should take their body temperature before calling.  A person with symptoms such as severe dehydration, bloody stool, mucous in their stool, or vomiting and/or diarrhea combined with a fever that lasts more than 2 days should seek medical attention. 

Cost

None

Location

Columbus Public Health

Hours

Monday - Friday

7:45 a.m. – 4:45 p.m.

Program Publications

The Bad Bug Book

Resources and Links

Gateway to Government Food Safety

Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Food Safety

Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Morbidity and Mortality Reports

Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Emerging Infectious Disease Journal 

Contact Us

645-1791 (Communicable Disease Division)

645-7005 (Food Safety Program)

Messages should be left on voicemail outside of regular business hours. Please include a contact phone number.

health@columbus.gov