Suspected food poisoning
Food poisoning means an infection or poisoning resulting from the consumption of food or household water. Food poisoning is most commonly caused by viruses, bacteria or the poisons, or toxins, that they produce. However, food poisoning can also be caused by parasites, fungi and poisonous plants.
If you suspect that a food product or beverage that you consumed caused symptoms of food poisoning, please notify the municipal food control authority. The notification should be submitted to the food control authority of the area in which the food premises (such as a restaurant, café or workplace cafeteria) are located.
You should also submit a notification if you suspect that a food product that you bought at a store caused symptoms of food poisoning. In this case the notification should be submitted to the food control authority of the area in which the store is located. In Helsinki, the notification should be submitted to the Environment services' Food Safety unit.
The responsibilities of a municipal food control authority include investigating suspected cases of food poisoning, taking samples of the suspected food products and carrying out inspections of affected food premises if necessary.
Upon being informed of a suspected case of food poisoning, a food industry operator is obligated to notify the municipal food control authority of the suspected food poisoning without delay and to retain the suspected food product for possible sampling.
You can submit a notification of suspected food poisoning to the Food Safety unit using an online form.
Alternatively you can submit a notification by calling the Food Safety unit's information service number 09 310 14000 (Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri 9:00–12:00 and Tue 9:00–15:00).