When addressing complaints of foodborne illness (FBI), which authority should be contacted?

When addressing complaints of foodborne illness (FBI), the Health Department should be contacted because they are responsible for monitoring and investigating cases of foodborne illnesses. They have trained professionals who can assess the situation, identify any potential public health risks, and initiate necessary actions to prevent further illness. The Health Department gathers data on FBI outbreaks, tracks patterns, and can determine if there is a wider issue affecting the community, making them the appropriate authority to handle these matters.

In contrast, while the Food Safety Inspector focuses on compliance and inspections of food establishments, they may not handle individual complaints directly. Local Police typically address criminal activities rather than health issues, and contacting Customer Service would not be effective in addressing public health concerns related to foodborne illnesses, as they do not have the jurisdiction or resources to investigate public health threats.