Reported cases of food poisoning
• Food poisoning (for notification purposes) “Any disease of an infectious or toxic nature caused by or thought to be caused by the consumption of food or water”. These reports include illness resulting from viruses (<10% foodborne) and Campylobacter (>70% estimated to be foodborne).
• Many of these cases are unconfirmed i.e. no specimen provided.
• They include many cases of diarrhoea and vomiting, which are not foodborne. (Especially viral – rotavirus and norovirus, but also campylobacter).
• These statistics should not be used to indicate trends of actual food poisoning and they should never be used to indicate trends of food safety standards in commercial premises.