Which confirmed food worker infection must a manager report to the regulatory authority?

Which confirmed food worker infection must a manager report to the regulatory authority?

• A. Norovirus
• B. Listeria
• C. Hepatitis A
• D. Salmonella

Answer: (C)

Notifiable infections in a food operation are reported to protect customers and staff from exposure. Hepatitis A is one of those infections that must be reported to the local health department when a food worker is confirmed to have it. This is because Hepatitis A spreads easily through contaminated food and can lead to outbreaks, so public health authorities need to be alerted quickly to conduct investigations, trace contacts, and implement control measures. Reporting also supports decisions about excluding the worker from handling food and providing appropriate prevention steps for others. While other illnesses like norovirus, Listeria, and Salmonella are serious and can involve public health action, the scenario highlights Hepatitis A as the infection that requires direct reporting by a manager.

Notifiable infections in a food operation are reported to protect customers and staff from exposure. Hepatitis A is one of those infections that must be reported to the local health department when a food worker is confirmed to have it. This is because Hepatitis A spreads easily through contaminated food and can lead to outbreaks, so public health authorities need to be alerted quickly to conduct investigations, trace contacts, and implement control measures. Reporting also supports decisions about excluding the worker from handling food and providing appropriate prevention steps for others. While other illnesses like norovirus, Listeria, and Salmonella are serious and can involve public health action, the scenario highlights Hepatitis A as the infection that requires direct reporting by a manager.