WAC 246-215-260   Procedure when disease transmission is suspected.  (1) When a possible foodborne illness incident is reported to any food employee, the person in charge of the food establishment must:

     (a) Immediately report the incident to the regulatory authority; and

     (b) Remove from sale and refrigerate any suspect foods until released by the regulatory authority.

     (2) When the regulatory authority suspects that a food establishment, or its employees, might be a source of a foodborne illness, the regulatory authority must take appropriate action to control the transmission of disease. This action may include any or all of the following:

     (a) Secure records that might enable identification of persons potentially exposed to the disease, and/or require additional assistance in locating such persons;

     (b) Secure the illness history of each suspected employee;

     (c) Exclude any suspected employee(s) from working in food establishments until, in the opinion of the regulatory authority, there is no further risk of disease transmission;

     (d) Suspend the permit of the food establishment until, in the opinion of the regulatory authority, there is no further risk of disease transmission;

     (e) Restrict the work activities of any suspected employee;

     (f) Require medical and laboratory examinations of any food employee and of his/her body discharges;

     (g) Obtain any suspect food for laboratory examination;

     (h) Require the destruction of, or placement of a hold order on, all suspect food; and

     (i) Limit, substitute, or restrict menu items or food handling practices that may be associated with causing illness.

     (3) The provisions of chapter 246-100 WAC, Communicable and certain other diseases, apply.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.20.050, 43.20.145 and 69.80.060. 04-22-111, § 246-215-260, filed 11/3/04, effective 5/2/05. Statutory Authority: RCW 43.20.050. 92-08-112 (Order 261B), § 246-215-260, filed 4/1/92, effective 5/2/92.]