Foodborne Illness

Foodborne illness, or food poisoning, can happen when you eat food or drink something containing bacteria, viruses, parasites or toxins. Toronto Public Health investigates foodborne illness to find the cause, provide public health guidance to sick people and help prevent the spread of infection.

Symptoms range from mild to severe and vary depending on the cause of the illness.  You may experience:

  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Stomach cramps
  • Diarrhea (with or without blood in your stool/poo)
  • Feeling like you have to go poo but nothing comes out
  • Fever

    Most people get better on their own, but sometimes it can be serious.

    Individuals with diarrhea or vomiting should drink lots of fluids to prevent dehydration.

    See a health care provider or call Health Connect Ontario (8-1-1) to talk to a registered nurse if you have high fever, bloody diarrhea or illness lasting longer than 72 hours.

    Health care providers may ask you to provide a stool specimen.

    If you are sick with diarrhea or vomiting:

    • Stay home when you are sick.
    • Wash your hands often especially:
      • after using the toilet
      • after diapering a child
      • before preparing or eating food.
    • Do not prepare or serve food to others.
    • Do not attend child care centres.
    • Do not work in child care centres or healthcare settings.
      • Follow your workplace policies and/or public health advice on when it is safe to return to work.
    • Drink lots of fluids to prevent dehydration.
    • Seek medical attention if your symptoms are severe or last longer than 72 hours.
    • Clean and disinfect commonly touched surfaces and shared washrooms including:
      • taps
      • bathrooms
      • doorknobs
    • Some organisms like norovirus are harder to kill and regular household disinfectants
      may not work.
    • A chlorine bleach solution can be used to disinfect surfaces.
      • Clean the surface first.
      • Mix two teaspoons of household bleach with two cups of water.
      • Apply bleach solution to the surface and allow to air dry.
    • If sharing a washroom, also use liquid soap and your own towel or disposable paper towels to dry your hands.

      There are several types of foodborne illnesses that can occur at major events:
      Date modified: June 11, 2026