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When it comes to dining in Stanislaus County, public officials perform weekly food inspections to ensure local restaurants and food trucks comply with health and safety standards set by the California Retail Food Code .
What happens if you get sick after eating at a local restaurant?
Reader Paula O’Leary asked Bee Curious , a community-driven series where reporters answer reader questions — from the mundane to the top of mind — about the Modesto region: “What should you do if you get food poisoning from a restaurant’s food?”
Here’s what Stanislaus County officials said:
How do I know if I have food poisoning?
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, you can get food poisoning after ingesting bacteria and other harmful germs, such as salmonella or E. coli.
Symptoms can vary depending on the specific germ you were exposed to.
These are the most common symptoms of food poisoning, according to the CDC:
Diarrhea
Stomach pain or cramps
Nausea
Vomiting
Fever
“Signs of severe food poisoning include bloody diarrhea, diarrhea that lasts more than three days, fever over 102 (degrees), vomiting so often that you cannot keep liquids down, and signs of dehydration,” the CDC said.
If you think you got sick from a specific restaurant’s food, the CDC said you should report it to your local health department so it can be investigated.
What should I do if I get food poisoning in Stanislaus County?
If residents feel sick after eating food at a local restaurant, they should contact the Stanislaus County Department of Environmental Resources, the Stanislaus County Health Services Agency said.
The Health Services Agency’s Public Health Division collaborates with the Department of Environmental Resources to “follow established processes for investigating these reports,” the health agency wrote in an emailed statement to The Modesto Bee.
However, the health agency said “anyone experiencing symptoms should seek assistance from a health care provider and consider getting tested.”
Residents can call local agencies to report the food poisoning, but they do not provide medical advice.
How can I report food poisoning complaints?
If you are experiencing severe illness due to food poisoning, the CDC said to seek medical attention .
In the case of non-emergency situations, the Department of Environmental Resources said individuals can report food poisoning incidents by calling 209-525-6700 .
Robert Kostlivy, a director with the department, said it “conducts inspections and collects records, as necessary, to assess the compliance status of the alleged complaint in accordance with the California Retail Food Code.”
Complaints can be submitted by phone or through the Stanislaus County website’s customer service center .
On the site, scroll to the environmental health tab and choose which topic area to file a complaint to.
Topic areas include:
- Food
- Food-borne illness
- Liquid waste
- Motels/hotels
- Recreational health
- Surfacing sewage
- Tattoo
- Water (wells and public)
“This form gathers critical information, including the individual’s symptoms, the time and composition of the suspected meal, and any meals consumed before and after the incident,” Kostlivy wrote in an email to The Bee .
How does Stanislaus County investigate food illness reports?
Once the completed form is submitted, Kostlivy said the Department of Environmental Resources reviews the report along with the facility’s inspection history to decide if the Health Services Agency should be notified.
“There are two key criteria for notifying the Health Services Agency,” Kostlivy said. “The first scenario occurs when a reported illness is a communicable disease that has not been previously reported.”
In this case, Environmental Resources will notify the county health agency to ensure they are aware of the incident.
An inspection is typically conducted at the reported food facility to assess its compliance to the California Retail Food Code, he said.
“The second scenario involves multiple occurrences of illness within the same timeframe related to the same food facility, which also warrants notification to (Health Services),” Kostlivy wrote.
Reportable communicable infections and diseases, including those caused by salmonella and E. coli, are closely monitored by the Health Services Agency, he said.
“Confirmed cases are reported by healthcare providers to the Health Services Agency directly, where they will be tracked by an epidemiologist,” Kostlivy said. “These cases generally require a more in-depth investigation, as they can pose significant risks to public health if the source is not identified.”
If necessary, the assigned epidemiologist will partner with the department to carry out a joint inspection for a comprehensive investigation.
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