Community Guidelines

Welcome to iwaspoisoned.com, a consumer-led platform dedicated to improving public health and food safety through shared experiences. These guidelines help us maintain a safe, trustworthy, and supportive environment for all users reporting suspected food safety incidents.

Jump to Section:

• Important Medical Notice
• Our Mission
• Reporting Guidelines
• Comment Guidelines
• Username Guidelines
• Privacy & Data Protection
• Prohibited Behavior
• Consequences of Violations
• Reporting Violations
• About User-Generated Content
• Acknowledgment

Important Notice: Not Medical Advice

iwaspoisoned.com is a consumer reporting platform, NOT a medical website.

• We do not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations
• User reports are personal experiences, not medical facts
• Always seek professional medical care for foodborne illness symptoms
• In emergencies, call 911 or your local emergency services immediately
• Consult healthcare providers for proper diagnosis and treatment

This platform serves as a crowdsourcing tool for food safety awareness and outbreak detection. All content is user-generated and should not replace professional medical consultation.

Our Mission

iwaspoisoned.com serves as a critical bridge between consumers, public health authorities, and the food industry. By following these guidelines, you help us:

• Protect public health through early outbreak detection
• Support restaurants, food businesses and public health agencies in maintaining safety standards
• Foster a supportive community for those affected by foodborne illness

Reporting Guidelines

Authenticity & Accuracy

• Report only genuine suspected food safety incidents that were experienced or observed.
• Provide accurate information including, where possible date, time, location, and symptoms
• One report per incident - avoid duplicate submissions, if multiple people were sickened include this in the report description

Where Possible - Include in Your Report

• Restaurant/store name and location, or your city/state if the source is unknown.
• Estimated Date and time of meal
• Foods and beverages consumed
• Symptoms experienced 
• Onset time of symptoms
• Duration of illness
• Whether you sought medical attention
• If you received a professional diagnosis

Remember: Your report should describe your experience. Most food-borne illnesses are never lab-confirmed, so we don’t expect you to have test results or an official diagnosis - and we still want your report. Avoid self-diagnosing specific pathogens or medical conditions; just tell us what you ate, your sympoms and your experience.

Verification Process

All reports undergo both human and technical review to ensure:

• Authenticity of the submission
• Elimination of malicious or false reports
• Accuracy of information
• Compliance with our terms of use

Comment Guidelines

We aim to keep a safe environment for all users. When commenting:

Be Courteous and Kind

• Treat all community members with respect
• Offer support to those experiencing illness
• Share helpful information and experiences constructively

No Promotions or Spam

• Do not advertise products, services, or websites
• Avoid posting unrelated content
• Keep discussions focused on food safety

No Misinformation

• Share only verified information
• Cite credible sources when providing medical or safety advice
• Avoid spreading unconfirmed rumors about establishments

Avoid Judging Others' Choices

• What seems obvious to you may not be obvious to others
• Respect different perspectives and experiences
• Focus on being helpful rather than critical

No Politics

• Keep discussions focused on food safety
• Avoid political debates or commentary
• This is a non-partisan platform for public health

Username Guidelines

We use simple, random usernames for three key reasons:

Protect Your Privacy

• The ID never reveals your real name or any personal info
• Your identity remains confidential while sharing important health information

Stop Trolls & Offensive Names

• No one can register a rude, hateful, or misleading handle
• This maintains a professional and respectful environment

Block Impersonators

• Brands, health agencies, and other users can't be faked with look-alike names
• Ensures authenticity and prevents confusion

These random IDs help keep the community safer, cleaner, and fair for everyone sharing food safety experiences and knowledge.

Privacy & Data Protection

• Your personal information is protected according to our privacy policy
• Reports are anonymized before being shared publicly
• We never share your contact information without consent
• Location data is used only for outbreak detection and public health purposes

Prohibited Behavior

The following actions are strictly prohibited:

• False reporting or malicious accusations against establishments
• Harassment of other users, businesses, or individuals
• Spam or repeated posting of irrelevant content
• Impersonation of health officials, businesses, or other users
• Disclosure of other users' personal information
• Defamatory or libelous statements
• Illegal activities or content

Consequences of Violations

Users who violate these guidelines may face:

• Removal of posts or comments
• Temporary suspension of account privileges
• Permanent ban from the platform

Medical Disclaimer

This Platform Is Not Medical Advice

• iwaspoisoned.com is a consumer reporting platform, not a healthcare provider
• User reports describe personal experiences and are not medical diagnoses
• Symptoms described by users are self-reported and not professionally verified
• Food safety information shared is for awareness, not treatment

When to Seek Medical Care

Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:

• High fever (over 101.5°F)
• Blood in vomit or stool
• Signs of severe dehydration
• Prolonged vomiting preventing fluid intake
• Diarrhea lasting more than 3 days
• Signs of nervous system damage (blurry vision, muscle weakness, tingling)

Your Responsibility

• Always consult qualified healthcare providers for medical advice
• Report severe illness to your local health department
• Do not rely solely on this platform for health decisions
• Individual experiences may vary significantly

Reporting Violations

If you encounter content that violates these guidelines:

Use the Built-in Reporting Feature

• Click the three dots (⋮) on any report
• Select "I have a concern about this report"
• Choose the appropriate concern:
  • It is suspicious or spam
  • It is abusive
  • I see a translation error
  • An issue with the image/video
  • Other concern
• Provide details in the comment field
• Submit your feedback

We encourage community members to report concerns to help maintain the integrity and safety of our platform. All reports are reviewed by our moderation team.

About User-Generated Content

Reports on iwaspoisoned.com are primarily user-generated content (UGC):

• Consumer reports are submitted by individual users, not medical professionals
• User content represents personal experiences and opinions, not verified facts
• iwaspoisoned.com does not create, endorse, or verify the accuracy of user reports
• The platform serves to aggregate consumer experiences for pattern detection
• User reports should not be considered medical or professional advice

Note: Reports marked "reported by user" are consumer submissions. Content marked with "source" and a URL link represents official regulatory information (recalls, outbreaks, violations) from government agencies and is not user-generated.

While we moderate content for authenticity and appropriateness, we cannot verify the medical accuracy of user-reported symptoms or diagnoses.

Updates to Guidelines

These guidelines may be updated periodically to:

• Address new challenges or concerns
• Improve community safety
• Enhance platform functionality
• Comply with legal requirements

Contact Us

For questions about these guidelines or general support email: support@iwaspoisoned.com

Acknowledgment

By using iwaspoisoned.com, you agree to follow these community guidelines and our terms of use. Together, we can create a safer food environment for everyone.