State Food Safety Practice Exam

How should a manager handle an employee who reports recent diarrhea but feels better?

1. Allow him to return to normal duties

2. Restrict his activities to bussing tables

3. Restrict from working with ready-to-eat foods

4. Exclude until symptoms have been gone 24 hours

The correct answer is: Exclude until symptoms have been gone 24 hours

The most appropriate action for a manager when dealing with an employee who reports recent diarrhea, even if they feel better, is to exclude them from work until their symptoms have been gone for at least 24 hours. This approach is crucial in preventing the spread of foodborne illnesses, as diarrhea can be a symptom of infectious agents that could contaminate food and surfaces if the employee resumes food handling too soon. Excluding the employee helps to ensure food safety and protects customers, as symptoms can sometimes resolve temporarily but still carry the risk of transmitting pathogens. Public health guidelines often recommend a symptom-free period before reintegration into food handling roles to ensure the safety of both the employee and the consuming public. While alternatives like restricting them to certain duties might seem lenient, they do not sufficiently mitigate the risk of food contamination. Allowing an employee to return to normal duties without ensuring they are symptom-free poses a significant health risk to customers and the establishment. Handling these situations with strict adherence to food safety protocols is vital to maintain a safe dining environment.