Food Truck Hepatitis A Outbreak Response Guide

Immediate Actions: First 24 Hours

Upon notification of a suspected Hepatitis A link to your operation, cease food sales immediately and secure the truck. Contact your local health department directly—don't wait for them to contact you—and provide complete customer records, employee rosters, and ingredient sourcing documentation. Quarantine all food products handled during the suspected exposure window and document serial numbers, purchase dates, and suppliers. Initiate staff notification of potential exposure and require immediate medical evaluation. FDA regulations (21 CFR Part 11) emphasize rapid recall documentation and traceability, so begin assembling timestamps, vendor invoices, and point-of-sale records showing customer names and purchase times.

Staff Communication & Health Authority Coordination

Identify all staff members who worked during the exposure period and notify them confidentially of potential exposure; do not publicly identify individuals unless the health department directs otherwise. Require all employees to report any symptoms (fatigue, abdominal pain, jaundice) and obtain medical documentation of testing/vaccination status. Work directly with the local health department's epidemiologist and food safety officer to provide customer lists, employee schedules, and detailed food preparation timelines. The CDC coordinates multi-state Hepatitis A investigations through health department networks, so expect potential requests for surveillance data. Maintain a dedicated communication log documenting all contact with health officials, timestamps, and guidance provided.

Product Investigation, Testing & Documentation

Conduct a comprehensive trace-back of all ingredients, particularly produce and ready-to-eat items sourced 2+ weeks prior (Hepatitis A incubation period is 15-50 days). Test implicated food items if the health department requests it; coordinate testing through your local lab or the health department's approved facilities. Document the complete supply chain for suspect products: vendor name, product lot numbers, distribution dates, purchase orders, and cold chain maintenance records. Maintain detailed records of cleaning protocols used on the truck during operations and post-closure sanitization procedures (use EPA-approved disinfectants per CDC guidance for Hepatitis A). Preserve all documentation for 12+ months as required by FDA record-keeping regulations.

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