Food Poisoning on Holiday

What our legal experts have to say on food poisoning on holiday claims

Michael Imperato warns travellers to be extra careful and not risk food poisoning on holiday.  He says: “For holidaymakers who may have fallen victim to such an illness, regulations exist that enable you to bring a claim against your tour operator when you arrive home, should it be possible to prove that the cause of illness was indeed food poisoning, and that this was contracted as a result of poor hygiene standards.

Holidaymakers who believe they may be suffering from food poisoning should always seek medical help straight away as the consequences can be serious if left untreated, diagnosis is also key for bringing a food poisoning on holiday claim.

Holidays are a serious investment for many people, and the financial and emotional implications of falling ill whilst abroad must also be taken into account alongside the physical symptoms.  Tour operators have a duty to provide suitable food for travellers, so anyone who has suffered from food poisoning abroad should contact a solicitor for advice on pursuing a claim on their return home”.

Our approach to food poisoning on holiday claims

We have a dedicated team of solicitors who specialise in bringing claims for people who have contracted food poisoning whilst on holiday.  We can offer a free initial consultation to help you understand if you are able to bring a claim for compensation and what evidence will be required.

Speak to one of our expert solicitors about your food poisoning on holiday claim

Please call 0800 916 9046, email enquiries@rjw.co.uk or use the short online enquiry form. Our dedicated food poisoning solicitors operate from London, Manchester, Birmingham, Sheffield, Cardiff and Edinburgh and can offer immediate and accessible representation anywhere in the UK. 

Information on food poisoning for holidaymakers

Salmonella is one of the causes of the more serious food poisoning that commonly affects holidaymakers. Salmonella is a bacterium that can be found in dairy products, meat and fish and can cause severe gastro-intestinal problems including diarrhoea and vomiting, as well as a fever.  The symptoms of Salmonella food poisoning can last for several days and in most cases can be treated with antibiotics.  However, if left untreated, Salmonella food poisoning can progress into more serious symptoms requiring hospital treatment.

Other common food poisoning causes

Other common causes of food poisoning for travellers include the Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli, Campylobacter, Shigella and Clostridium botulinum bacteria, all of which exhibit symptoms associated with Salmonella food poisoning.

Our advice if you have been sick on holiday

It is important to be vigilant about hotel hygiene.  Do not hesitate to seek medical assistance if you get food poisoning on holiday.  Suffering in silence only to raise the issue when you have returned home will make it very difficult to prove the link between your illness and the hotel/resort in question.  If hotel hygiene is poor and you are suffering sickness as a result, your fellow holidaymakers should also be affected.  It is important to obtain and keep safely the contact details of fellow tourists similarly affected.

Quite often when they return home people will correspond with the tour operator and may well be offered a small sum of money or a small reduction off their next holiday by way of compensation.  It is best to seek legal advice before accepting this as you may be letting the tour operator off too lightly.