Food Safety Services

Report a Foodborne Illness

If you think you or a family member has a foodborne illness, call your health care provider and report the symptoms to the Kent County Health Department by submitting the form below. You may be contacted by the Kent County Health Department within 1 to 2 business days to collect more information for an investigation. YOUR IDENTITY WILL BE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL DURING AN INVESTIGATION:

Foodborne illnesses have many causes. The time between someone eating the food to the time symptoms first appear is different for each illness. A foodborne illness can happen within a few minutes to several days after eating a suspect food; however, most happen within 72 hours (3 days). For that reason, it is important to collect a 72 hour food history from you. This information is essential to completing a detailed investigation.

LIST THE FOODS YOU ATE, AS BEST AS YOU CAN, IN THE 3 DAYS BEFORE YOUR SYMPTOMS STARTED; INCLUDE ALL RESTAURANTS VISITED. PLEASE LIST THE RESTURANT’S APPROXIMATE LOCATION:

  • Do your best to include times of meals (approximate times are OK).
  • Please include approximate location (e.g. street and cross street) or full address for all restaurants.
  • If you got sick in the morning, start your food history (Day 1) with the day before you got sick. If you got sick in the afternoon or evening, start your food history (Day 1) with the same day you got sick.
  • If you're having trouble remembering what you ate, try to recall activities or appointments on those days.

Day 1

(24 hours before you got sick)

Day 2

(48 hours before you got sick)

Day 3

(72 hours before you got sick)