Website allows faster reporting of foodborne illnesses

Website can warn about food poisoning faster

Story Courtesy of Kentucky Today- 

FRANKFORT, Ky. (KT) – A new website where Kentuckians can easily report foodborne illnesses is up and running, said Gov. Andy Beshear. 

Until now, when someone suspected foodborne sickness, it was reported to district or local health departments via phone, then a decision was made as to whether further investigation was needed.  The new website allows for quick and easy reporting by consumers.  It also allows state public health officials to get the necessary information more efficiently, and in return, allows for quicker action to prevent others from becoming sick.

“Protecting the health and safety of our Kentucky families is my top priority,” Beshear said. “With this new service, we will improve our ability to quickly help Kentuckians receive, analyze and respond to foodborne illness reports and identify foodborne outbreaks and prevent others from getting sick.”

He said the new website will allow the Department for Public Health to have more information when putting out alerts.  “Now, we can not only to that for the public, but we can go directly to the manufacturers and growers. We can pick up the information that much earlier and stop other people from buying that product.  Anyone who has had food poisoning, and that’s probably all of us, wouldn’t wish that on anyone else.”

State Public Health Commissioner Dr. Steven Stack said the website is now up and running. 

“When you think you ate food that made you sick, whether it was at a restaurant, a street vendor, or one you bought at the grocery store, if you think you or family members have become sick from a foodborne illness, you can go to the website, report some information about yourself and the circumstances, that will be sent to your local health department.”

He added, “The sooner we know about these things, the sooner we can look into them, see if there is a pattern, and intervene quickly to keep more people safe from harm.”

This the state’s first-ever centralized system for foodborne illness data collection.  Local health departments base the need for an investigation on how many people are sick, what their symptoms include, when the illness began and how long it lasted, whether people are still becoming sick, what people ate and, potentially, how many people were exposed. 

If necessary, the germ that caused people to become sick is identified through laboratory testing at the health department or clinical provider’s office. The health department will visit a food establishment or store suspected to be tied with the food that caused the illness, if needed.

The website is FoodSafetyReporting.ky.gov, and is under the auspices of the Department for Public Health, part of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services.