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Food Handler · Crisis Management and Recalls

What is the appropriate response to an imminent health hazard such as a sewage backup, water supply interruption, or fire in the kitchen?

Correct answer

Cease operations as needed, notify the regulatory authority, and not resume until the hazard is corrected and approval is given

  1. A Keep operating normally
  2. B Cease operations as needed, notify the regulatory authority, and not resume until the hazard is corrected and approval is given
  3. C Continue cooking with bottled water indefinitely without reporting
  4. D Only address it the next day

Why this is the answer

An imminent health hazard — such as a sewage backup, loss of safe water or electrical power, flooding, fire, or similar emergency — requires the establishment to cease affected operations as needed to protect public health, notify the regulatory authority, and not resume until the hazard is corrected and (where required) approval to reopen is obtained. Continuing to operate during such a hazard risks serving contaminated or unsafe food. The manager must know the operation's emergency procedures and act decisively. Recognizing imminent health hazards and responding by stopping operations and notifying authorities is an essential crisis-management duty.
Source: FDA Food Code — Imminent Health Hazards

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