We investigate food poisoning and food borne illnesses.

If you have contracted an illness

If you suspect that you have contracted an illness from a food business you should see your GP who may decide to take a specimen to identify what type of food poisoning has been contracted.  The results of this will be notified to us and we will then contact you.

Alternatively you can report an incident to us.  Call us on 01372 732000 or email contactus@epsom-ewell.gov.uk

Reporting illness if you handle food

If you are employed as a food handler, you are obliged to report any food poisoning illness to your employer who should take action to prevent any accidental contamination of food.

If there is an outbreak

We will investigate an outbreak to prevent the infection spreading and put in measures to stop outbreaks happening in the future.  This investigation can lead to food being seized and a business being closed down or taken to court.

People in the risk groups below are particularly vulnerable and you should seek further advice from us:

• staff of health care facilities who have direct contact, or contact through the serving of food, with susceptible patients or persons in whom an intestinal infection would have particularly serious consequences
• children aged less than 5 years who attend nurseries, nursery schools, playgroups, or other similar groups
• adults who may find it difficult to implement good standards of personal hygiene.

Advisory leaflets

Campylobacter leaflet (pdf - 130kb)
Giardiasis Gastro Enteritis leaflet (pdf - 123kb)
Salmonella food poisoning (pdf - 123kb)

External Links

Food Standards Agency

Further Information

Telephone:  01372 732000
email: contactus@epsom-ewell.gov.uk