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Food safety
Food business staff and illnesses
Staff handling food in food businesses are often not sure when they should work or not if they feel ill.

We all get sick from time to time but there are times when being sick will mean you can’t go to work as a food handler.

If you are a food handler - when should you not work?

If you have any of the following symptoms do not go to work:

  • diarrhea
  • abdominal cramps
  • nausea
  • fever or
  • vomitting.

If you are a food handler you should also:

  • Advise your supervisor if you are unwell or become unwell while at work
  • In this situation it is important that you do not handle any food.

You must not work when you are suffering from illnesses which can be transmitted through food. These include gastroenteritis (often called gastro) viral gastro (Norovirus) Hepatitis A and Hepatitis E.

Don’t return to work until all your symptoms have stopped for 48 hours.

The Food Standards Code give more details on the Health and hygiene responsibilities of food handlers.

  • We always aim to educate and help businesses comply with the Food Act 1984 or the Food Standards Code. However where this hasn’t worked to address a problem or there’s a risk to public health enforcement action can be taken by Council. Enforcement action can range from warnings and Food Act Orders up to fines and even prosecution. Some of the common non compliant issues we see are not having adequate hand washing facilities having uncovered foods on display staff members not handling foods safely staff coming to work with gastro symptoms/food poisoning or not paying a Food Act renewal on time.