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Foodborne Illness Investigations
Food borne illness is a result of eating contaminated food that harbors enough disease causing bacteria or viruses to make you ill. 
 
Foodborne illness (FBI) is not necessarily from the last meal eaten and can occur as long as 45 days after eating contaminated food. Typically, an FBI occurs three hours to three days after eating contaminated food.  Biological samples and food samples may be collected for some illnesses that result from food. The symptoms of foodborne illness can mimic the same symptoms as those caused by the flu and include, but are not limited to: nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, diarrhea, fever, chills, body aches, head ache, and dehydration.  Additional information about communicable diseases is available on the web site for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
 
Specialized investigations are conducted for complaints related to illness from the food or beverage. Complainants are interviewed about their symptoms to help determine the cause of the illness. If you believe your are suffering from a foodborne illness, please contact us at 311 (Denver Residents), 720-913-1311 (Outside the Denver Metro Area) or phicomments@denvergov.org 
 
An inspector who specializes in these investigations will contact you regarding your concern. Be prepared to provide information including meals eaten in the 3 days leading up to the illness, the symptoms and when each one started, interactive activities, employment, travel, and contact with other people who are ill. The department appreciates the time and cooperation of those who report foodborne illnesses.
 
Additional information about food safety is available in the Retail Food Establishment Resources and Forms.
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Common Myths of Foodborne Illness

Most food borne illness occurs approximately 24 hours after consuming food. Food borne illness can happen instantly or up to 50 days after food consumption, as is the case with Hepatitis A - a serious food borne virus. There are many different types of food borne illness that product a wide range of incubation periods.

It is not possible for only one person to become ill if others who consumed the same product did not. It is very possible for only one person to become ill, even if several others ate the same item or even shared an item. Underlying conditions such as a persons’ health, age, amount of product consumed, and type of harmful bacteria all play a role in the incidence of food borne illness.

Anyone suffering food borne illness would experience a fever. The symptoms of food borne illness are as varied as the incubation periods. Symptoms may or may not include a fever, and symptoms may vary for each individual.

As long as people wash their hands nothing can go wrong. There are many problems that may result in food borne illness. Improper cooling of large volumes of food is the leading cause of food borne illness in a commercial kitchen. Proper hand washing is also an important factor in the control of food borne illness.

Eggs and chicken are the items that cause most food borne illnesses Eggs and chicken, in addition to meats, pasta, rice, seafood, and vegetables, etc. are all items that can cause illness. Any food with a sufficient amount of protein, moisture, and with a favorable pH can support bacteria growth if not handled properly.

The food must taste or smell funny if it is capable of causing illness In most instances, organisms that cause food borne illness show no signs that they are present in food. For that reason it is important to always follow safe practice when handling food in order to prevent illness.

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