By the Numbers

If you suspect that an illness is the result of food-borne bacteria, contact your personal physician immediately. Local county health officials should also be informed if a particular food item (not an at-home preparation) is the suspected source of the illness. For general information about food safety, try the following numbers.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Hotline, (888) 232-3328, or Web site at https://www.cdc.gov.

Consumer Nutrition Hot Line, National Center for Nutrition and Dietetics, American Dietetic Assn., (800) 366-1655.

Industry Council on Food Safety, (800) 266-5762. The Council, the restaurant and food service coalition of National Restaurant Assn., offers a free brochure, “Recipe for Safe Food Preparation.”

Meat and Poultry Hotline, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, (800) 535-4555.

Office of Consumer Inquiries, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, (301) 827-4420. For questions on all foods regulated by the FDA, including dairy products, canned goods and processed foods.

Seafood Hot Line, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, (800) 332-4010.