Claiming for food poisoning

[Deleted member 11679]

Hello all,

Just after advice from anyone who’s been in this situation before.

Last Sunday, it appears that I ate from a buffet in a pub that has subsequently given me food poisoning.

Been to the doctors, samples sent off and still feel very under the weather five days on. Talking with the organiser of the party (it was for a christening), several others have come down with something similar.

Because of this, I’ve logged a report with environmental health. Upon doing so, it appears as if the pub in question has a 2* Food Safety rating!

So, my questions. Will environmental health actually do anything? It’s my understanding that several others will also be completing the relevant complaint online.

Is it possible to seek compensation from a venue over this sort of thing? If so, and in your experience, how easy is it to do and will I face something very long and drawn out?

Advice appreciated. I’m not happy about it, totally ruined a week of holiday! I’m not really one for wanting ‘compensation’ but this has made me feel truly awful and hasn’t gone away yet.

Thank you,

Tom

 

[Deleted member 11679]

Were you on leave whilst ill? Your employer should give you that time back if so, but apart from that I think you will struggle for comp unless you can prove that you have been affected financially.

Been there myself are times so understand your annoyance.

Thank you for this, useful to know.

Just some insight from inside the industry - well, I used to be. Environmental Health will contact the head office of the pub involved, if its a chain. The pub will be asked to provide its logs, fridge checks, meat temperature checks etc. If they're all in compliance, then someone from HO may go to the site concerned and ask some questions. But food poisoning is very hard to prove - compensation is also very rare.

That's interesting to know, thank you.

Not worth the time or effort . You'll get nowhere. Chalk it up to being unfortunate and move on with your life.

That's almost certainly what I'll end up doing. The point about compensation, probably written badly in the first post, would be more about claiming back for the price paid for the buffet. That was all.

 

[Deleted member 11679]

I got very ill with food poisoning a few years back, I had lots of weird symptons I wouldn't associated with food poisoning so I called the docs.

They took a stool sample and that was that. I recovered and didn't even bother chasing my results because I could never get through on the phone when I tried.

A few weeks later I got a letter from environmental health wanting to know where I'd been as I had a reportable illness. I never did hear if they actually investigated further but from that I figured they at least take it seriously so op, if you contact them I expect they'll do something!

Thank you, useful to know.

 

[Deleted member 11679]

Hey look by all means make a complaint. you'd probably get more traction if you collate some evidence that your entire party was affected. But I wouldn't spend any time on it. Knock something up in 15mins and get on with your life. But you never know, if the pub is half decent (which with a 2* rating I doubt it ) and keen to keep repeat business they might offer you something. But I'm guessing (and this is a total guess because I have no experience on the management's side of the fence) that they'll know full well that you'll never return, so won't bother doing anything.

When I wrote the thread, it was an 'I'm angry at the world because I'm unwell and deserve X, Y, Z' ...now my fever has dropped off for a bit and I'm more rational, I know I'll not do anything. It'll be nothing more than a rubbish story to share. Thank you.

 

[Deleted member 11679]

Didn't realise the thread had gathered so many opinions. As an update, had a call from Environmental Health and they are investigating it. They've asked me to pass on to others who were at the party that they need to complete the same form I did.

If it's confirmed as food poisoning I'll definitely leave a review on TripAdvisor. I'll be interested to know if I hear anything back about what's been found out.

Also, I definitely won't be claiming compensation. I think a well written review will suffice and I may ultimately send them a letter if I feel that's something I want to do. I live over 2 hours from the venue so they definitely won't be getting repeat business!

 

[Deleted member 11679]

For reference my Doctor has come back to me and said my test results show ‘Campylobacter’ in my system. Therefore it was definitely poor food preparation rather than another guest.