Under the Texas Administrative Code, food establishment employees must notify their employers if they are experiencing any of the following conditions so that the employer or person in charge can take appropriate steps to preclude the transmission of foodborne illness:
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Jaundice
- Sore throat with fever
- Infected cuts or wounds, or lesions containing pus on the hand, wrist, an exposed body part, or other body part and the cuts, wounds, or lesions are not properly covered (such as boils and infected wounds, however small)
Employees must also inform their employer if they or a household member have been diagnosed as being ill with Norovirus, typhoid fever, Shigellosis, Escherichia coli 0157:H7 or other EHEC/STEC infection, nontyphoidal Salmonella or hepatitis A.
By reporting symptoms or diagnosed illnesses, food employees play a critical role in preventing disease outbreaks and protecting customer health.
Posting Requirements
Food establishments must display the Illness Reporting Poster at every handwashing sink for food employees to see. (TX Admin. Code § 228.32)
