360 Training Food Handlers Practice Exam

What action should be taken if customers experience foodborne illness?

1. Request feedback to improve food quality

2. Notify local health department

3. Offer free meals to affected customers

4. Close the restaurant for cleaning

The correct answer is: Notify local health department

Notifying the local health department is crucial in the event of customers experiencing foodborne illness. This action assures that health officials can investigate the situation thoroughly to determine the source of the contamination, assess potential risks to other patrons, and take necessary steps to prevent further issues. It helps in tracking outbreaks and ensures that any unsafe practices can be identified and corrected to protect public health. While seeking feedback on improving food quality or offering free meals to affected customers may seem considerate, these measures do not address the immediate threat to public health. Closing the restaurant for cleaning may also be a reaction, but without involving health authorities, the root of the problem might remain unresolved. Therefore, the priority must be to inform the local health department so they can manage and mitigate the food safety concern effectively.