Which symptom would disqualify a food handler from working?

Which symptom would disqualify a food handler from working?

• A. Vomiting
• B. Mild fatigue
• C. Sore throat with no fever
• D. No symptoms

Answer: (A)

Vomiting is disqualifying because it signals a contagious gastroenteric illness that can easily contaminate food, utensils, and surfaces through hands or droplets. When a food handler vomits, there’s a real risk of spreading pathogens like norovirus or other stomach bugs, so the responsible policy is to exclude them from work immediately and require symptom resolution (often 24 hours) and sometimes medical clearance before returning. Mild fatigue or a sore throat without fever aren’t clear indicators of a contagious condition in the same way, and having no symptoms means it’s safe to work. So vomiting directly creates a risk that makes it the correct disqualifying symptom.

Vomiting is disqualifying because it signals a contagious gastroenteric illness that can easily contaminate food, utensils, and surfaces through hands or droplets. When a food handler vomits, there’s a real risk of spreading pathogens like norovirus or other stomach bugs, so the responsible policy is to exclude them from work immediately and require symptom resolution (often 24 hours) and sometimes medical clearance before returning. Mild fatigue or a sore throat without fever aren’t clear indicators of a contagious condition in the same way, and having no symptoms means it’s safe to work. So vomiting directly creates a risk that makes it the correct disqualifying symptom.