OLYMPIA, Wash.-The Washington State Department of Health has launched a tool to make it easier to report food poisoning and file food safety complaints.
The Foodborne Illness Notification System was launched statewide on July 15.
FINS is a portal to help local health jurisdictions identify the source of food-related illnesses and respond faster to outbreaks.
According to the DOH, even though foodborne illnesses can cause serious sickness or even death, they often go unreported.
How to report foodborne illness or safety concerns through FINS:
Submit through the FINS website if you have a suspected case of foodborne illness. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, or fever. Concerns about restaurants or other food service locations can also be reported through the website.FINS contacts the local health authority: Once a complaint or report is submitted through FINS an email notification is sent to the local health jurisdiction.Local health jurisdictions reviews reports: All concerns will be reviewed, then local health jurisdictions will respond accordingly, including contacting food establishments, conducting inspections and contacting the person who reported the concern.
