What is Report My Meal?
Report My Meal is an online system for reporting suspected foodborne illness to public health officials in Massachusetts. After completing an online form, the information goes to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) where it is reviewed and shared with local health departments within the state for follow-up.
Members of the public should only use this form to report illness for themselves or someone else in their household. If you are concerned about someone who lives outside of your household, such as a friend or neighbor, please send them this webpage so they can report their own illness. or ask that they call the DPH Division of Food Protection at (617) 983-6712.
Tips for completing the report form
It is important to provide detailed and complete information when reporting foodborne illness. Follow the tips below to ensure successful completion of the form:
- Take time to think about all food you ate during the 72 hours before symptoms began
- Review credit card or bank statements, your work or personal calendar, or photos on your phone to help remember where you went and what you ate in the days before getting sick
- Make sure you have the name and address of where food came from, if it was not made at home
- Collect information from others who are sick in your home, including the date and time when their symptoms began, and what their symptoms were
- Provide your name and contact information so that we can follow up with questions if needed
If you are reporting illness following a large gathering, or among a group of people who don’t live together, please call the DPH Division of Food Protection at (617) 983-6712 instead of completing this form.
What happens when I submit a foodborne illness report?
After completing the form, your report is sent to DPH and the local health departments who permit the locations listed on your report. Local health officials may visit the locations to check for safe food handling practices. Your report is reviewed with others to look for patterns, such as multiple people sick from the same food or same place.
How to report other food complaints
If you have a complaint about a food establishment that did not result in an illness (e.g., food handling practices, food quality), it is suggested you contact the city or town’s Local Board of Health directly. You may also call DPH’s Division of Food Protection (617-983-6712) and they can relay your message to the appropriate Local Board of Health.
If you would like to report a problem with an United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulated human or animal product (e.g. defects in the quality or safety of a product, or labeling issue) or adverse health experience (e.g. injury, illness, or death associated with a product), please utilize FDA’s SmartHub. Find out what the FDA does regulate on their website.
If you would like to report a problem with a USDA regulated product (e.g. meat, poultry, processed egg), please utilize USDA’s Electronic Consumer Complaint Form.