Hepatitis A Outbreak Response Guide for Food Banks

Immediate Response & Isolation Procedures

Upon notification of a Hepatitis A case connected to your facility, immediately isolate affected inventory in a designated quarantine area—label all suspect products clearly and prevent redistribution. Contact your state health department and local environmental health agency without delay; they will provide specific guidance on which products require recall based on production dates, handling procedures, and epidemiological data. Cease operations in affected areas if directed, and ensure all surfaces contacted by potentially contaminated products are cleaned with EPA-approved disinfectants per FDA guidelines. Document the exact time of notification, products affected, and all actions taken with timestamps. The CDC and FDA coordinate outbreak investigations, so compliance with their requests—including product samples and handler records—is mandatory.

Staff & Volunteer Communication & Health Screening

Immediately notify all staff and volunteers who handled suspect products or worked in affected areas; provide clear information about Hepatitis A transmission, symptoms (jaundice, fatigue, abdominal pain), and the typical 15-50 day incubation period. Instruct exposed personnel to monitor for symptoms and contact their healthcare provider or local health department if they develop illness—some may be offered post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) depending on timing and health status. Implement enhanced hand hygiene protocols: require frequent handwashing, provide hand sanitizer at all workstations, and remove employees showing symptoms from duty immediately. Conduct brief training sessions on safe food handling, emphasizing that Hepatitis A is destroyed by heat (cooking to 185°F for 1 minute) but survives most cold processes. Document all communications, screening results, and training attendance for regulatory compliance and liability protection.

Product Verification, Health Department Coordination & Documentation

Cross-reference all inventory against outbreak source information (specific products, lot codes, facility names, dates) provided by the FDA or health department; use your receiving logs and distribution records to identify which clients received potentially affected items. Work directly with your health department liaison to determine which products require public notification, quarantine, or destruction; follow their specific protocols for product disposition. Maintain comprehensive records including outbreak notification date, health department contact information, inventory quarantined, distribution records of affected products, staff communications, cleaning logs, and any illnesses reported among staff or clients—retain these for at least 3 years per FSMA requirements. Report any secondary cases (staff or clients who become ill) to the health department immediately, as this information shapes the outbreak investigation. Panko Alerts monitors FDA, FSIS, and CDC alerts in real-time, helping food banks stay informed of multi-state outbreaks before local notification.

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