Environmental Health

Environmental Health

Illnesses / Outbreaks

Foodborne Illness Complaint Process

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Foodborne Illness Complaint Process:

 

 

 

Step 1: Lodge a Complaint

Please Note: If you require immediate medical advice call Health Link Alberta at 403-943-LINK (5465) or toll free at 1-866-408-LINK (5465) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to speak with a registered nurse. Health Link Alberta will then forward your foodborne illness complaint to our department.

To lodge a complaint, call 403-943-2296 between 8:00am and 4:00pm, Monday to Friday or email contact.environmentalhealth@calgaryhealthregion.ca. You will need to provide the following information:

  • Your name
  • The telephone number(s) at which you can be reached during the public health inspector's normal office hours 8:00am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday
  • Your symptoms, number of people ill, and the name of the facility where you ate
  • As per the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIPP Act), YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION (NAME AND PHONE NUMBER) WILL NOT BE SHARED with any third-party (restaurant manager, etc.) under any circumstances, without your consent.

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Step 2: A Public Health Inspector Receives Your Message

  • A message containing the information provided will then be forwarded to a public health inspector
  • Within 2 business day a public health inspector will contact you by phone during their normal office hours

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Step 3: A Public Health Inspector Contacts You

If you are not home at the time of the public health inspector’s call a message will be left. Please note that the public health inspector will attempt to reach you by phone for 2 business days after you file your complaint, if a return phone call is not received your complaint file will be closed.

You will be asked to provide additional information when the public health inspector contacts you, such as:

  • What type of symptoms do you have?
  • When did your symptoms start?
  • Has anybody else in your household experienced similar symptoms?
  • What foods did you eat at home, restaurants, and social functions during the week prior to feeling ill?
  • Have you traveled recently?

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Step 4: A Public Health Inspector Follows Up

Based on the information provided, the public health inspector will first determine the suspected cause of your illness and whether or not the problem is an environmental public health concern.

If the problem is an environmental public health concern, the public health inspector will determine the appropriate next course of action. Actions may include:

  • An inspection of the food establishment where it is suspected that you became ill from.  Inspection reports are then posted online at the following website: http://www.calgaryhealthregion.ca/health-inspections/index.jsp
  • Collection of food and/or water samples
  • Collection of stool samples
  • The public health inspector may contact you in the future to request further information

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