What should a manager do if a foodborne illness outbreak is suspected to be linked to the establishment?

If a foodborne illness outbreak is suspected, the manager must respond responsibly: notify and cooperate fully with the local health department, preserve any suspect food (do not discard it, as it may be needed for testing), gather and document relevant information (what was served, when, by whom, employee health records), and take immediate corrective actions to prevent further illness. The establishment may need to stop serving certain items or temporarily close. Prompt, transparent cooperation protects public health and can limit the harm and liability. Knowing how to manage a suspected outbreak — cooperate, preserve evidence, document, correct — is a key crisis-management responsibility.