Food poisoning is an illness caused by eating contaminated food. It is not usually serious and most people get better within a few days without treatment. We are often contacted by people who suspect they have food poisoning that they link to a restaurant or takeaway where they last ate. In truth, food poisoning normally takes at least 12 hours from the consumption of food for diarrhoeal symptoms to manifest and, in some circumstances, symptoms can take several days to start. If you are suffering from diarrhoea or sickness and you think you have food poisoning, you should visit your GP.