When a Restaurant’s Unsafe Practices Can Lead to Being Shut Down

 Posted on August 12, 2025 in Food Poisoning

When most people hear the phrase "a restaurant got caught poisoning the food," their minds often jump to extreme images — a malicious employee slipping rat poison into a meal or someone intentionally contaminating dishes. In reality, in the vast majority of cases, "poisoning the food" has nothing to do with deliberate acts of harm. Instead, it describes unsafe food handling practices that, over time, can make customers seriously ill. Public health officials take these matters seriously. If a restaurant repeatedly engages in unsafe practices and customers begin reporting illnesses to the local health department, the establishment may face warnings, fines, and, in the most severe cases, forced closure.

Understanding what "poisoning the food" really means can help both diners and restaurant owners protect public health. Our Illinois food poisoning attorneys are here to help.

What Counts as "Poisoning the Food"?

Food poisoning doesn’t just happen because of chemicals or toxins. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that most foodborne illnesses in the United States are caused by bacteria, viruses, and parasites, and many of those are introduced through poor hygiene or improper storage. A restaurant can "poison" food in several ways without ever adding a dangerous substance:

• Improper storage of food: Perishable items, like dairy products or meats, must be kept at safe temperatures to slow bacterial growth. Allowing these foods to sit out for too long can lead to dangerous contamination.
• Serving expired or spoiled ingredients: If food is past its safe consumption date, bacteria may have multiplied to unsafe levels.
• Cross-contaminating utensils and surfaces: Using the same cutting board or knife for raw chicken and then fresh vegetables without cleaning in between can transfer harmful bacteria like Salmonella or E. coli.
• Failure to wash hands properly: Employees who handle money, touch their face, or go to the restroom and then touch food without washing their hands can spread illness quickly.

The Role of the Health Department

Local and state health departments are tasked with enforcing food safety standards. In Illinois, for example, food establishments are inspected regularly, and inspectors may arrive without notice to check for compliance with health codes. When unsafe practices are found, a restaurant may be issued a violation notice and required to correct the problem immediately. Repeat violations, or violations that pose a serious risk to public health, can result in more serious consequences. If a pattern of negligence emerges — especially if multiple customers have fallen ill — the health department can shut the restaurant down until it can demonstrate that conditions have improved.

Why Reporting Matters

Consumers play a vital role in maintaining safe dining environments. If you suspect you became sick from eating at a particular restaurant, it’s important to report your illness to the local health department. One complaint may not trigger action on its own, but several reports over a short period can prompt an investigation. When the health department receives multiple credible complaints, inspectors will review the restaurant’s operations, look at food handling processes, and often take samples for testing. This helps prevent further illnesses and protects the public from ongoing hazards.

Protecting Yourself When Dining Out

While you cannot control how a restaurant handles its food, you can take steps to minimize your risk:

• Pay attention to cleanliness, not just of the dining area but also restrooms, which can be a reflection of kitchen hygiene.
• Notice if employees are using gloves or washing hands after handling raw ingredients or money.
• Be cautious about ordering high-risk foods, like raw oysters or undercooked meats, from establishments you don’t know well.

The Bottom Line

"Poisoning the food" doesn’t have to mean someone is trying to hurt customers. Often, it simply means a restaurant is failing to follow basic safety rules, and that failure can have serious health consequences. Local health departments exist to monitor, enforce, and, when necessary, shut down restaurants that endanger public health. By staying informed, reporting unsafe practices, and making careful dining choices, both customers and restaurant owners can help ensure that meals are remembered for their flavor, not for making someone sick.

Contact an Illinois Food Poisoning Lawyer

If you or a loved one has suffered an illness because of unsafe food handling or other negligent restaurant practices, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. At Newland & Newland, LLP we represent clients in food poisoning cases throughout Illinois, and we are committed to holding negligent businesses accountable. Call our Illinois restaurant food poisoning attorneys today at 312-981-0409.