A food employee called in this morning with vomiting and diarrhea. The symptoms began 36 hours ago and stopped 6 hours ago. When may they return to handling food, assuming no Big 6 pathogen has been diagnosed?
Explanation
FDA Food Code 2-201.13(A)(1), adopted into California's Retail Food Code via HSC §113949.1, permits a food employee who was excluded for vomiting or diarrhea WITHOUT a Big 6 diagnosis to return to work when they have been ASYMPTOMATIC for at least 24 hours. Most California operators apply a 48-hour rule as a best practice because norovirus can be shed in stool for 48 hours after symptoms resolve and is the leading cause of unconfirmed acute gastroenteritis in foodservice — the 48-hour gap dramatically lowers the residual risk. The employee should not return earlier even if they feel well (option A), because pathogen shedding outlasts symptoms. Option C (4 hours) is far too short for any gastrointestinal recovery. Option D (one full week) is the requirement for confirmed Big 6 cases with a positive culture, NOT for unconfirmed gastroenteritis. If the employee IS later diagnosed with Norovirus, Shigella, STEC, Salmonella nontyphoidal, Salmonella Typhi, or Hepatitis A, written medical clearance is required regardless of how long they have been symptom-free.
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