In a nursing home, foodhandlers are prohibited from working if they exhibit which symptom?

Foodhandlers in a nursing home setting are prohibited from working if they exhibit a sore throat with fever. This is a critical guideline in food safety and public health, especially in healthcare environments like nursing homes, where individuals are often more vulnerable to infections and contagious diseases. A sore throat accompanied by a fever may indicate the presence of an infectious illness, which could be easily spread during food preparation and service, posing a risk to residents.

Maintaining strict health and safety protocols helps prevent the transmission of illnesses, particularly in environments where the risk of infection can have serious consequences. Therefore, it is essential for foodhandlers to report these symptoms and refrain from working until they have been cleared, ensuring the safety of the food served to residents.

Coughing may also indicate a possible illness, but it is not as definitive a symptom as sore throat with fever when considering potential infections. Similarly, headaches and nasal congestion are common symptoms that are not as directly tied to contagious illnesses that could impact food safety in a nursing home environment. Hence, the emphasis on a sore throat with fever underscores its significance in preventing foodborne illnesses and protecting the health of vulnerable populations.