Which of the following symptoms must a food handler report to a manager?

• A. Dizziness and fatigue
• B. Diarrhea, vomiting, jaundice, and sore throat with fever
• C. Nausea and headache
• D. Skin rash and cough

Answer: (B)

A food handler must report specific symptoms that pose a serious risk of foodborne illness to a manager, and this includes diarrhea, vomiting, jaundice, and sore throat with fever. This is because these symptoms are strongly associated with contagious diseases that can easily be transmitted through food, particularly in environments where handling and serving food to others occurs.

Diarrhea and vomiting are classic indicators of gastrointestinal illness, which can lead to the spread of pathogens like Norovirus or Salmonella if proper sanitary measures are not taken. Jaundice, which indicates liver issues, can be a sign of hepatitis, a particularly dangerous virus that can be transmitted through contaminated food. A sore throat accompanied by fever may suggest an active infection like strep throat that, when severe, could contribute to the spread of pathogens through food handling.

While dizziness and fatigue, nausea, and headaches can be signs of illness, they do not necessarily indicate a direct risk of contaminating food or spreading a foodborne illness as clearly as the symptoms listed in the correct answer. Similarly, symptoms like a skin rash and cough, while they may impact overall health or indicate other illnesses, are not classified as high-risk symptoms concerning food safety. Thus, the requirement to report only applies to the more critical symptoms that