Foodborne Illness
CDC estimates that each year roughly 1 in 6 Americans (or 48 million people) gets sick, 128,000 are hospitalized and 3,000 die of foodborne diseases.
Lewis and Clark Public Health actively investigates foodborne illness complaints and confirmed cases of foodborne illness agents. These illnesses can also be obtained by contact with contaminated water or animals. If you think that you have experienced a foodborne illness, call 457-8900 to file a report.
Lewis and Clark Public Health sanitarians will talk to you about your symptoms, collect a food history and a description of recent activities. We ask for a detailed food history because the last meal you ate may not be the source. It is often hard to remember, but the best investigation will occur when you provide as much information as possible. That will give all of us the best chance of understanding the illness and the risks that may have led to your illness. We will use that information to provide food safety guidance and to investigate any potential food facility involvement. Our goal is to protect you, your family and the community from any further illness.
Registered Sanitarians routinely inspect food facilities to evaluate the control of procedures that most often lead to foodborne illness. See our latest inspection results at {link to food facility inspections}. Inspections are conducted once per year unless concerns have been identified.