Under California Retail Food Code §113949.2, JAUNDICE in a food employee (yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes) requires what immediate action by the person in charge?

Explanation

California Retail Food Code HSC §113949.2 lists jaundice (icterus, yellowing of skin or sclera) as one of the conditions requiring IMMEDIATE EXCLUSION of the employee from the food facility and IMMEDIATE notification of the local enforcement agency. Jaundice is treated as presumed Hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection until medically proven otherwise — the rule applies if the onset was within the past 7 days (older jaundice is handled differently per FDA Food Code 2-201.12). Exclusion means the employee may not be on premises in ANY capacity. Return requires written clearance from the local health officer (typically after laboratory confirmation rules out HAV or, if HAV is confirmed, after the infectious period has ended, usually 7 days after onset of jaundice). The reason for the immediate, strict response is that HAV infectiousness peaks BEFORE jaundice appears — by the time jaundice is visible, the employee has likely been shedding virus for 1-2 weeks and any food they touched in that period is suspect. Options A, B, and D all keep a presumed-HAV employee in the facility and are dangerously non-compliant; the 2003 Chi-Chi's outbreak (>660 cases) traced to ignoring exactly this protocol.