Food poisoning is an unpleasant and often debilitating experience, which can range from a mild inconvenience to a serious illness. It happens when you eat something that’s contaminated by bacteria, viruses, or parasites, usually when food is improperly handled, stored, or cooked. These contaminants can infect your body or produce toxins that make you ill.
If you’ve contracted food poisoning from food you’ve bought from a restaurant or other outlet, you may be able to make a food poisoning compensation claim. To do so successfully, you’ll need to be able to prove the business in question is responsible, and you’ll need to act quickly.
What are the symptoms of food poisoning?
Food poisoning symptoms can vary depending on the type of bacteria, virus, or parasite in the contaminated food you eat. But the most common symptoms of food poisoning include:
- Nausea (feeling sick)
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Stomach cramps
- Fever
Symptoms of food poisoning can appear within a few hours of eating contaminated food, or they can take several days to develop depending on the type of contamination and the quantity. This delay can make it hard to identify the exact food that caused it.
Because food poisoning shares symptoms with stomach viruses and other conditions, it’s important to identify the cause.
How to gather evidence for a food poisoning claim
To successfully make a food poisoning compensation claim, you’ll need to collect evidence linking your illness to the restaurant or establishment from which you purchased contaminated food. The following steps will strengthen your case:
Seek medical attention
Visiting a doctor or hospital is important in confirming that your symptoms are caused by food poisoning and not another illness. A doctor can:
- Diagnose your condition
- Conduct tests, including stool samples, to identify the bacteria, virus, or parasite responsible
- Provide treatment and a medical report that can be used as evidence
Keep receipts and records
Keeping a copy of your restaurant bill and a payment receipt will prove you ate at the restaurant and will also help support your claim of what you ate. If you didn’t keep either of these but you paid with a credit or debit card, your card statement can also help prove you were at that restaurant.
Keep a timeline and notes on your symptoms
Keep a detailed record of:
- When your symptoms started and what those symptoms are
- How your symptoms progressed over time
- The overall severity of your illness
- Any medical treatment you received
These notes will help in proving when and where you were infected, and will demonstrate how the food poisoning affected you. Both should help support your claim.
Speak to others
If you dined with others, ask if they experienced similar symptoms. A pattern of multiple people falling ill after eating the same meal strengthens your case against the restaurant.
Report the incident
You should notify your local authority food safety team about the suspected food poisoning. They may conduct an inspection or investigate the restaurant, further supporting your claim. Reporting food poisoning can also help prevent further outbreaks if the restaurant is confirmed to be the source of contamination.
Collect photographic evidence
You may not have taken a photo of your food, but if you have, make sure you keep it. Take photos of any leftovers, packaging, or receipts that may be useful as evidence.
If you’re eating in an establishment that has what looks like visible hygiene issues, be sure to take photos of these instances too if possible, as this can further support your claim.
Can you claim compensation for food poisoning from a restaurant?
Under the Consumer Protection Act 1987, food establishments have a legal duty to serve food that is safe for consumption. If negligence in food handling, contamination, or hygiene practices led to your illness, you may be eligible to make a food poisoning compensation claim.
A successful food poisoning claim can cover:
- Your medical expenses
- Lost wages from not being able to work
- The pain and suffering you experienced
To make a valid compensation claim, you’ll need to demonstrate that the restaurant’s negligence directly caused your illness. This is why it’s essential to collect food poisoning claim evidence and act quickly.
How can Injury Lawyers 4u help with your food poisoning claim?
We know that making a successful food poisoning claim, including gathering the right evidence of food poisoning, can be challenging. But our legal team is experienced in making a wide range of personal injury claims, including food poisoning compensation claims.
We can assess your evidence and help you gather more to build a strong case, then guide you through every step of the process of claiming for restaurant food poisoning. With our no win, no fee promise, you won’t face any financial risks. Use our compensation calculator for an estimate of how much you could claim for food poisoning.
If you’ve contracted food poisoning from a restaurant, please don’t hesitate to get in contact with us. Call us on 0333 400 4445, or fill in a contact form and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.