Extension > Food > Food Safety > Sanitation and illness > Reporting foodborne illness
Reporting foodborne illness
A foodborne illness for most “healthy” people is a nuisance and symptoms usually go away within a few days. However, for people who are at high risk (e.g. young children, elderly, or have a weakened immune system or a chronic disease), a foodborne illness can be life threatening and even deadly!
If you believe that you became sick from eating any food or beverage, call the Minnesota Foodborne Illness Hotline (toll-free at 1-877-366-3455 or Twin Cities area at 651-201-5655) or your county health department or your medical clinic.
When you call the Hotline, county health department or medical clinic, this call will help identify foodborne illness outbreaks in Minnesota. It will also prevent the spread of illness to others!
When you call, remember:
- Foodborne illness often occurs 1-4 days after eating contaminated foods.
- Hotline staff will ask you about your symptoms, the foods you ate and where you ate them in the 4 days before your symptoms began.
- All collected information is private and will not be released without your permission.
- If someone is not available to take your call, please leave a voice message with your name and telephone number. Or, send a message via e-mail: foodill@state.mn.us
After your call:
- Your information will be forwarded to environmental health staff responsible for the area you suspect.
- You may be asked for a stool sample to help determine what is making you ill.
Revised by Kathy Brandt, University of Minnesota Extension educator, 2013.
Contact the Food Safety team: 
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