Contact the correct agency
- For complaints involving
retail grocery stores, food processing establishments, bakeries, and retail
meat markets: Contact the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) Food Safety Program.Report a Foodborne Illness
Report a foodborne illness
- To report a foodborne illness please contact the local public health authority
- Be prepared to provide
the following information to the local public health authority regarding your
suspected foodborne illness:
- Your symptoms: time it
started and frequency of events
- The foods you have
eaten within the last 72 hours
- Name and locations
where the food was obtained and/ or eaten
- Other individuals in a
group that may have become ill
ODA's response
- ODA reviews every complaint that is
submitted. Depending on the nature of the complaint, type of food product, the
place of purchase, and the location it was prepared or manufactured, ODA will
either conduct the preliminary investigation internally or refer the complaint
to our food safety colleagues at the local, state or federal agencies. The
timeframe to investigate a complaint internally is prioritized based on the
food safety risks associated with the situation.
Examples of consumer
complaints investigated by ODA
- Unsanitary or unsafe
food conditions: Report cleanliness
issues or food storage or handling practices that could contaminate food.
- Storage temperature of
food purchased: Perishable foods
should be kept hot or cold.
- Food establishments that
have not obtained a license
- Foreign objects in food
- Improper food handling
and employee practices: improper hand
washing, bare hand contact with ready eat food, and poor personal hygiene.
- Animals in stores: Only service animals, not pets, are allowed in stores.
Service Animals ORS 659A.143
Unlawful Discrimination in Employment, Public Accommodations and Real Property Transactions ORS 659A.143: Service animals