Certified Professional Food Safety (CP-FS) Practice Exam

Which of the following symptoms is NOT part of the five that must be reported to a food service supervisor?

1. Coughing

2. Diarrhea

3. Sore throat with fever

4. Vomiting

The correct answer is: Coughing

The correct answer is based on the understanding of food safety regulations and the specific symptoms that are mandated to be reported to a food service supervisor to ensure public health safety. The five symptoms that food service workers must report typically include diarrhea, vomiting, fever, sore throat with fever, and jaundice. Coughing is not listed among the critical symptoms that must be reported because, while it can be a sign of illness, it does not directly relate to foodborne illness transmission in the same way as gastrointestinal symptoms or fever do. The primary concern in a food service environment is the potential for transmitting pathogens through food or food handling practices. By focusing on symptoms that indicate a higher risk for spreading illness, such as those affecting the gastrointestinal tract or causing fever, health regulations aim to minimize the risk to customers. Thus, coughing is not part of the mandatory reporting symptoms, highlighting why it stands out as the answer to the question.