Hepatitis A Prevention Guide for Dallas Food Service (2026)

Hand Hygiene and Employee Health Screening Protocols

The Dallas County Health Department mandates frequent handwashing with warm running water and soap for 20 seconds, especially after restroom use and before food preparation. Hepatitis A spreads through fecal-oral contamination, making hand hygiene the primary defense. Establish mandatory health screening procedures that exclude employees with jaundice, dark urine, or gastrointestinal symptoms for at least 7 days post-recovery. Texas Food Establishment Rules (28 TAC §229.33) require managers to monitor for illness signs during shift start. Document all exclusions and test results, particularly if an employee contracts Hepatitis A, and immediately notify the Dallas County Health Department to initiate trace-back protocols.

Sanitation Standards and Surface Contamination Prevention

Dallas food service establishments must implement enhanced sanitation following FDA Food Code guidelines for Hepatitis A risk reduction. All food-contact surfaces, restroom fixtures, and hand-washing stations require sanitization with EPA-registered disinfectants effective against non-enveloped viruses. The Dallas County Health Department specifically recommends quaternary ammonium compounds (quats) or chlorine-based sanitizers at 200 ppm for high-touch surfaces. Separate hand-washing sinks from food preparation areas, and maintain hot water temperatures above 100°F for handwashing stations. Train staff on proper cleaning sequencing: remove visible soils first, then apply sanitizer, allowing adequate contact time per product labels. Schedule weekly deep-cleaning audits and maintain sanitizer concentration logs.

Dallas Health Department Compliance and Outbreak Response

The Dallas County Health & Human Services maintains active surveillance for Hepatitis A through the Texas NEDSS (National Electronic Disease Surveillance System) and requires immediate reporting of suspected outbreaks. Food establishments must cooperate with health inspectors during investigations, providing employee names, work schedules, and food source documentation. Dallas conducts unannounced inspections focusing on handwashing stations, employee health policies, and food handler certification compliance (Texas Food Handler Card required). If a confirmed Hepatitis A case is linked to your facility, expect trace-back investigations of customer contact history and contamination sources. Maintain detailed records of employee vaccinations (Hepatitis A vaccine is recommended but not mandated for all staff). Register for Dallas County Health Department notifications at dallascountyhealthoffice.org to stay informed about active cases and guidance updates.

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