Food Poisoning- please chime in!

My hubby and I were at a upscale B&B in Mendocino . The package was breakfast and dinner on the first day, which was lovely. We hit a few wineries along the coast, did some hiking that day, etc. Early the next morning, he developed severe GI pain. We had to go to the hospital where they diagnosed him as having food poisoning based on the contents of what he threw up, etc. I don't want to get too gross here.

I felt it was my duty to call the manager about the incident. Trust me, I was gentle and did not demand a free room or anything. He was very curt and rude, IMO and said that "food poisoning is a very complicated issue". Well, duh, I had 15 hours of Microbiology in college, I understand that one teenager touching a zit can infect a meal! He called me later in the day to say that he contacted 3 other diners who had the ribeye and none of them were ill. He didn't ask me how my hubby felt, didn't ask if we needed ginger ale, nada. He was really defensive and rude.

So my question here is should a diner contact a restaurant if they suspect food poisoning? I found a plastic object in my dinner on a recent cruise and pointed it out to the waiter. I got a written apology and a bottle of wine in my room. That's not what I wanted. I thought that maybe a vessel or a container might be broken and they needed to check on it. I am paranoid now about ever saying anything!!

Your opinions, please....

I think you should have contacted them..and if you did it in a nice manner, then it's really their problem. I've been food poisoned twice..both times from chicken. Once was from a restuarant and once from our own home. My Mom and I once split a piece of chicken and she got mildly sick while I was horrificly sick and wound up having to go to the hospital. Several other people also had chicken from the same package and none of them got ill. So I feel it's entirely possible for one person to get it, and the others not. Sorry you had it so rough!

Wow, their defensiveness seems very uncalled for. They were probably afraid you were going to sue them and were trying to 1) CYA and 2) intimidate you. I have had food poisoning once, also from chicken, and it isn't something I ever want to have again. I did not contact the restaurant though -- frankly I didn't have the energy to do so, was living alone at the time and was doing good to get out of bed to "take care of business," and by the time I felt well enough to do so, it was water under the bridge and I didn't feel like there would be a purpose in contacting them.

[Robin Garr]

You did the right thing by letting them know, and doing it graciously.

They did the wrong thing by responding defensively and rudely.

At least you now have a good reason not to go back there. Not because of the incident, which could happen anywhere, but because of the way they handled it.

Call the local Board of Health. The hospital should have contacted them, but not all states require that. Sounds like they need a visit, just based on attitude alone.

It is crucial that you contact the restaurant as other diners could be in jeopardy as well, or could have reported a similar problem.

The response you got was entirely unacceptable.

You did the right thing!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjIlhecvEOs