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News and Articles

 

Common Foodborne Illnesses
Hepatitis A	Salmonella	Campylobacter	Ecoli

Heapatitis A

Should a restaurant owner be concerned?

Did you know?

That an outbreak of hepatitis A can cost your restaurant more than $100,000.A hepatitis A outbreak occurred in a mid-west city that lasted for more than 2 years. It was directly linked to one employee at a fast-food restaurant. When an food handling employee at a restaurant is infected with hepatitis A, the restaurant is required to notify the community.

 

What is hepatitis A?

Hepatitis A is an infection of the liver that causes fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, and jaundice (yellowing of the skin, eyes and darkening of urine.) Adults are usually more ill than children. The illness can last from two weeks to six months.

 

 

How is hepatitis A spread?

Hepatitis A is spread through the "fecal-oral" route of transmission. This means that someone infected with hepatitis A can spread this disease if they do not wash their hands after toileting and proceed to prepare or handle food for other people, share food or cigarettes with other people, or touch other people.

Who gets hepatitis A?

Anyone can get hepatitis A. People who live with or have sexual contact with people with the disease are at highest risk of contracting it. It also spreads easily in daycare settings where many children are in diapers and cannot wash their own hands. Anyone who eats food prepared by an infected person can also get hepatitis A.

 

Why is this a concern in the restaurant industry?

Generally, the restaurant industry is not a major player in outbreaks of hepatitis A. However, one food handling employee with hepatitis A can potentially infect dozens of other people, including your patrons and other employees. If your restaurant is responsible for even one case, the negative publicity, legal costs, and loss of revenue from having to close your doors can be devastating.

 

What can we do to prevent hepatitis A at our restaurant?

One of the best ways of preventing hepatitis A from spreading is by strict adherence to personal hygiene.  This includes restricting ill employees from handling food and enforcing hand washing of all employees before handling food and after toileting. Excluding an employee from work with symptoms, however, may be too late - a person is contagious with hepatitis A two weeks before symptoms ever develop. There is a vaccine that protects against hepatitis A which would eliminate the risk of this type of foodborne illness.

 

Should I have my staff vaccinated?

 

There is no right answer. One needs to assess the pro’s and con’s of vaccinating restaurant employees.

 

 

 

PRO’s:

• The cost of an hepatitis A outbreak far exceeds the costs of vaccinating staff.
• This greatly reduces the risk of a hepatitis A outbreak in your restaurant.
• This is one more measure you can take to protect your patrons from foodborne illness.
• This demonstrates to the community that you are committed to food safety.
• You will be providing long term protection for your employees from this disease.

CON’s:

• The cost may be prohibitive depending on the number of employees vaccinated.
• Since it takes 6 months to fully vaccinate an individual, a high turnover rate means you would be vaccinating your competitors employees.
• This leads to a false sense of security against other food safety concerns.
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Salmonella

 

Provided by: Massachusetts Department of Public Health, 305 South Street, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

What is salmonella?

Salmonella are germs (bacteria) that cause an infectious disease (called "salmonellosis") of the bowel in humans and animals. Although the disease is usually limited to the bowel and most infected people do not have any serious medical complications, the salmonella germ can spread to other systems of the body, such as the blood and bone. This may cause serious complications in infants and in people who are very old or are immuno-compromised.

 

What are the symptoms?

The most common symptoms are stomach cramps, diarrhea, fever, nausea, and sometimes vomiting. Symptoms can take up to three days to show up, but most often begin 12 to 36 hours after the germs are swallowed. Symptoms generally last for several days. Some people with salmonellosis become sick enough to require hospitalization.

 

How is salmonella spread?

The germs must be swallowed to cause disease. Usually this happens when someone eats food that has been contaminated with the germs and has not been properly handled, prepared or cooked. The germs can also spread when people do not wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water after using the toilet, changing diapers, or handling reptiles. People who get the germs on their hands can infect themselves by eating, smoking, or touching their mouths. They can also spread the germs to anyone or anything they touch, especially food, which can then make others sick if not cooked enough to kill the germs. Salmonella is commonly spread from person to person in day-care centers and other environments where hygiene may be poor.

 

What types of food are most likely to spread salmonella?

Salmonella germs are common in uncooked food products from animals, such as eggs, egg products, meat, meat products, poultry, unpasteurized milk and other unpasteurized dairy products. However, thorough cooking and processing will kill the germ. Salmonella can be in any type of food if salmonella germs get on the food. For example, a food handler with salmonella may get germs on the food if his or her hands are not washed thoroughly before preparing food.

 Can salmonella be spread by animals?

Yes! Salmonella germs have been found in the stool (feces) of both sick and apparently healthy animals (and even apparently healthy people). Most common pets and farm animals, including poultry (chickens, geese, etc.), cows, pigs, dogs, cats and reptiles (such as turtles and iguanas) have been found to carry the germ. Salmonella has also been found in some wild animals. Therefore, it is very important to wash your hands well, with plenty of soap and water, after handling these animals.

 How can you know for sure if you have salmonellosis?

Your doctor, nurse or health center must send your stool sample to a laboratory. The laboratory then grows germs and tests them to see if any of the germs are salmonella. It takes the lab several days to do this test.

 

How is the disease treated?

Usually, people who are otherwise healthy will get over the illness without having to be treated. Antibiotics are used to treat salmonellosis only in people whose bodies may not be able to fight off the germ on their own, such as the very young, very old or irmunocompromised. If otherwise healthy people take antibiotics to fight salmonella, the germs might actually stay in the body longer than if they had not taken antibiotics. If you think you might have this disease, you should see your doctor or go to your health center. People with diarrhea or vomiting need extra fluids. 

How can you prevent salmonellosis?

The most important things to remember are that the germs can only make you sick if you swallow them, and that the germs are killed by thoroughly washing your hands with soap and water and by thorough cooking. Be extra careful when using food products from animals, such as eggs, poultry, meats, and dairy products. Follow the tips below, if you make them your habits, you can prevent salmonellosis as well as other diseases:

• Al ways wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before eating or preparing food, after using the toilet, after changing diapers, and after touching your pets or other animals (especially reptiles).

• Make sure to thoroughly cook all food products from animals, especially poultry and eggs. Do not eat raw or cracked eggs, unpasteurized milk, or other unpasteurized dairy products.

• Keep food that will be eaten raw, such as vegetables, from becoming contaminated by animal-derived food products. For example: scrub your hands, all utensils and surfaces that have been in contact with raw poultry before you make a salad.

• Avoid letting infants or young children come into contact with reptiles, such as turtles or iguanas. If they do, make sure to wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water.

• If you are taking care of someone with diarrhea, scrub your hands with plenty of soap and water after cleaning the bathroom, helping the person use the toilet, or changing diapers, soiled clothes or soiled sheets.

• If you or your child has persistent diarrhea (with or without a fever), or the diarrhea is very bad, call your doctor or health center for advice..

 
Are there any restrictions for people with salmonellosis?

Yes. Because salmonellosis is a disease that can easily spread to other people, health care providers are required by law to report cases of salmonellosis to the local board of health. In order to protect the public. Workers at food related businesses who have salmonellosis, must stay out of work until they don't have diarrhea and one lab test on a stool sample shows that there are no salmonella germs. Workers in food-related businesses who have diarrhea and live with someone who has salmonellosis must also show that they have no salmonella in their stool. Food-related businesses include restaurants, sandwich shops, hospital kitchens, supermarkets, dairy or food-processing plants. This law also includes workers in schools, residential programs, day-cm and health care facilities who feed, give mouth care or dispense medications to clients.

 
Where can I get more information?

Massachusetts Department of Public Health

Division of Epidemiology (617) 983-6800

Your local board of health

Listed in the phone book under local government

Your doctor or health care provider

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Campylobacter

 

Provided by: Massachusetts Department of Public Health, 305 South Street, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

What is campylobacter?

Campylobacter is a germ (a bacterium) that can infect the bowel in people and animals. The disease it causes (called "campylobacteriosis') is one of the most common causes of infection of the bowel in the US. Most people infected with campylobacter do not get serious medical problems. However, in rare cases the infection can spread to other parts of the body such as the blood.

 

What are the symptoms of campylobacteriosis?

The most common symptoms are diarrhea (sometimes bloody), abdominal (stomach) pain, tiredness, fever, nausea, and vomiting. These symptoms can start within one to ten days, but most often will show up within two to five days, after the germs have been swallowed. In otherwise healthy people, the symptoms usually last one to four days, but sometimes longer. If you have any of these symptoms, see a doctor.

 

How is campylobacter spread?

The campylobacter germ must be swallowed to cause disease. This usually happens,when someone eats food that has been contaminated with campylobacter and has not been well cooked or pasteur ized (treated to kill germs). It also can happen if someone drinks contaminated water. Campylobacter is found in the stool (feces) of infected people. Campylobacteriosis can be spread from one person to another if an infected person prepares food for other people without thoroughly washing his or her hands after using the toilet. The infection sometimes spreads in day-care centers and other institutions because very young children and disabled adults may not always be able to wash their hands well. People can also be infected by their pets, especially, puppies and kittens.

 

What kinds of food are most likely to be contaminated?

Camplyobacter is most commonly found in uncooked food products from animals, such as poultry (chicken, turkey, etc.), and in unpasteurized milk. Some people have been infected by eating raw shellfish. However, thorough cooking or pasteurizing will kill the bacteria and make these foods safe to eat.

 

Can campylobacteriosis be spread by animals?

Yes! Campylobacter has been found in the stool (feces) of infected farm animals and pets (including cattle, poultry, cats and dogs), whether they are sick or healthy. The bacteria have also been found in different kinds of wild animals Therefore, you should wash your hands well with soap and water after touching animals or their stools.

 

How is campylobacteriosis diagnosed and treated?

Your doctor, nurse, or health center must send your stool sample to a laboratory. The lab then grows germs from it and tests them to see if any of the germs are camplyobacter. It takes several days to do this test. Most people get well without any treatment, but some people can get very sick. If you think you or someone in your family has this disease, see a doctor or go to a health center as soon as you can. People who get very sick for longer than usual, or whose work or living situation make it likely that th eir infection will spread to others, are usually treated with antibiotics.

 

How can you prevent campylobacteriosis?

The two most important things to remember are that the germ can only make you sick if you swallow it and that thorough cooking will kill it. Be extra careful when using food products from animals. Follow the tips below, if you make them habits, you can prevent campylobacteriosis, as well as other diseases:

• Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before eating, before handling food, after using the toilet, after changing diapers, and after handling your pets or cleaning up after them.

• Cook all food from animal sources thoroughly, especially poultry. If the meat or poultry is still pink in the center, it is not thoroughly cooked.

• Use only clean utensils, dishes and cutting boards to prepare food that is already cooked or will be ea ten raw. Anything you use to prepare raw meat, seafood, or poultry, including your hands and the table or counter top, should be washed thoroughly before you touch any other food.

• Do not eat raw shellfish or unpasteurized dairy products (such as cheese). Do not drink unpasteurized milk or eat anything made with unpasteurized milk.

• Do not drink from untreated water supplies when you go camping or hiking.

• If you are taking care of someone who has campylobacteriosis or diarrhea, scrub your hands with plenty of soap and water after cleaning the bathroom, helping the person use the toilet, or changing diapers, soiled clothes or soiled sheets.

• If you or your child has persistent diarrhea (with or without a fever), or if the diarrhea is very bad, call your doctor or health center for advice.

 

Are there any health r egulations for people with campylobacteriosis?

Yes. Because campylobacteriosis is a disease that can easily spread to other people, health care providers are required by law to report cases of campylobacteriosis to the local board of health. In order to protect the public, workers at food-related businesses who have campylobacteriosis must stay out of work until they don't have diarrhea and one lab test on a stool sample shows that there are no campylobacter germs. Workers in food-related businesses who have diarrhea and live with someone who has campylobacteriosis must also show that they have no campylobacter germs in their stool. Food-related businesses include restaurants, sandwich shops, hospital kitchens, supermarkets, dairy or food-processing plants. This regulation also includes workers in schools, residential programs, day-care and health facilities who feed, give mouth care or dispense medications to clients.

 

Where can you get more information?

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health
Division of Epidemiology (617) 983-6800
Your local board of health Listed in the telephone book under local government. Your doctor, nurse or health center.

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E.coli

 

Provided by: Massachusetts Department of Public Health, 305 South Street, JamaicaPlain, MA 02130

 What is E.coli 0157:H7?

 

E. coli are germs (bacteria) that normally live in the bowel of people and animals. Most strains of this germ are harmless, but the strain called E. coli 0157:H7 can make people sick.

 

 

 What are the symptoms?

The most common symptoms are severe stomach cramps and diarrhea. Some people vomit or run a fever, but these are less common. Sometimes the diarrhea turns bloody after 2 or 3 days. These symptoms usually go away by themselves after 6 to 8 days. In a small number of people, this strain of E. coli can cause a rare but serious problem called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).

 

 What is HUS?

HUS is a disease that affects the kidneys and the blood clotting system. It starts about a week after the diarrhea begins and affects more children than adults. In bad cases, dialysis is used for a while to do the kidney's work. Some people also develop a bleeding problem or low blood count (anemia). Most people who get HUS will regain their health with no remaining blood or kidney problems.

 

Where is E coli  0157:H7 found?

It lives in the gut of healthy cattle and can get into the meat when cattle are slaughtered. The germs are killed when the meat is thoroughly cooked. The most common food source is ground beef (hamburg), because the grinding spreads the germs throughout the meat. These germs have also been found in raw milk, roast beef, apple cider, salami, and sometimes on vegetables fertilized with contaminated cow manure.

 

 How is it spread?

E. coli 0157:H7 must be swallowed to cause infection. This can happen if you eat or drink something that contains these germs and is not properly cooked or pasteurized. The germs can be spread from person to person if someone who is infected does not thoroughly wash his or her hands with soap or water before preparing food for others. Spreading E. coli germs this way is more common in families and day-care centers than in schools and restaurants.

 

 How is E. coli 0157:H7 diagnosed?

 

Infection with this germ can only be diagnosed by testing a stool sample. It is not a routine test, so if your doctor or nurse thinks you may have E. coli 0157:H7, she or he must ask the lab to test for it.

 

 

 How is the disease treated?

There is no treatment for E. coli 0157:H7. Antibiotics do not help and may even be harmful. Do not try to stop the diarrhea, which should go away by itself after a few days. Just drink plenty of liquids to replace the fluids being lost. For severe cases of HUS, dialysis or transfusions are sometimes used until the patient's kidneys and blood return to normal.

 

  How can you prevent it?

The most important things to remember are that the germs can only make you sick if you swallow them, and that the germs are killed by thoroughly washing your hands with soap and water and by thorough cooking. Follow the tips below; if you make them your habits, you can prevent E. coli 0157:H7-as well as other diseases:

• Do not eat unpasteurized dairy products (such as cheese) or undercooked or rare ground beef.

• Do not drink raw milk or cider made from unwashed apples.

• Always cook meat until the center is brown, not pink. Cook hamburgers until the center is 155 degrees

• Do not put cooked meat or other prepared food on a dish or cutting board that held raw meat.

• Always wash your hands with soap and water after going to the bathroom or changing a diaper. Wash them again before touching or eating food.

 

 Are there any restrictions for people with E coli 0157:H7?

Yes. Because E. coli 0157:H7 is a disease that can easily be spread to other people, health care providers are required by law to report cases of E. coli 0157:H7 to the local board of health. In order to protect the public, workers at food-related businesses who have E. coli 0157:H7 must stay out of work until they don't have diarrhea and one lab test on a stool sample shows that there are no E. coli 0157:H7 germs. Workers in food-related businesses who have diarrhea and live with someone who has E. coli 0157:H7 must also show that they have none of the germs in their stool. Food-related businesses include restaurants, sandwich shops, hospital kitchens, supermarkets, dairy or food-processing plants. This regulation also includes workers in schools, residential programs, day-care and health care facilities who feed, give mouth care or dispense medications to clients.

 

 Where can I get more information?

 

Massachusetts Department of Public Health Division of Epidemiology (617) 983-6800. Your local board of health, listed in the phone book under local government, Your doctor, nurse or health center

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