State Food Safety Practice Exam

How long must an employee exclude from working after exhibiting symptoms of a contagious disease?

1. 12 hours

2. 24 hours

3. 48 hours

4. 72 hours

The correct answer is: 24 hours

The correct duration for which an employee must be excluded from working after exhibiting symptoms of a contagious disease is 24 hours. This guideline is based on the need to prevent the spread of illness within food service environments. When an employee shows symptoms of a contagious disease—such as vomiting, diarrhea, or fever—it is essential to ensure that they are no longer contagious before returning to work. The 24-hour exclusion period helps to reduce the risk of transmitting the infectious agent to coworkers and customers. This standard provides enough time for symptoms to resolve and for the employee to recover sufficiently to return to a food handling role safely. It aligns with public health recommendations for managing contagious diseases in foodservice settings. Shorter exclusion periods might not adequately protect against further spreading the illness, while longer exclusions could unnecessarily affect staffing levels and the operation of food service businesses. Thus, a 24-hour exclusion period strikes a balance between safeguarding public health and maintaining operational efficiency.