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Concerns or Complaints

Contact the correct agency

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 and 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.

Submitting a Concern or Complaint Anonymously

Complainant contact information is important in the event ODA has follow-up questions regarding details of the complaint for a thorough investigation.  However, if you wish to stay anonymous, you can leave the "Your Name" box in the online complaint form blank but make sure to fill out the rest of the form as completely as possible.  As concerns and complaints are part of public record when submitted, including any photos added to the complaint, we are obligated to release the full complaint if a Public Record Request is made.  Please review everything submitted with the concern or complaint so any personally identifiable information won't be included in those requests if anonymity is desired.


Report a Concern or Complaint

File a Food Safety Complaint 

More info from ODA

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