Stool test of food handlers after vacation

Hai,
Just one enquiry,

What is your opinion about the stool test for food handlers when they are back after vacation.

please advice

thanks
Sheeja

I've seen both. In one factory I worked in, if you went outside the EU, US, Australia or New Zealand, you had to have a stool test on your return, however, you weren't stopped from doing your normal job. In another factory I worked in, you would only be tested if you have had symptoms of diarrhoea or vomiting. I think there are pros and cons to testing even if you are symptomless.

Pros

I once had a positive result from someone who had just come back from India
People often dismiss a bit of a dodgy stomach on holiday and think it's only 'adapting to the food'
Even if the person does not have food poisoning, they will have been near people who do in some countries without knowing
Standards of food preparation in some countries is poor

Cons

If you're not stopped from going into high risk while you wait for the results, what's the point?
It could unfairly discriminate against certain members of staff (we employed a lot of British Indians and Pakistanis)
It's expensive
People who do turn up positive usually admit they have had symptoms so maybe training is the answer

Anyway - I'm not sure what I think but if you chose not to do testing, you probably have to do a lot of training with people to report the slightest symptom.

Is stool testing either after holiday / illness or just as a general programme a requirement (legal?) for any particular industry / country?

Regards,
Simon

Dear Simon,

Is stool testing either after holiday / illness or just as a general programme a requirement (legal?) for any particular industry / country?

You beat me to it.

I believe the more polite format is " legally enforceable or not" and I also believe the answer in UK is no but can still be inserted into yr starting contract with a "subject to employees agreement" proviso. And we all know what that means. First BRC, then 1984.

Standards of food preparation in some countries is poor

I agree. On my last visit to UK, I (and a cat) fascinatedly watched fish - filleting being elegantly carried out on a wooden surface at a small open-air establishment in Grimsby. "You pays your money and ..." Caveat emptor.


Rgds / Charles.C

added - I should perhaps add that subseqently I have successfully consumed delicious meals of fisnchips in both Grimsby and Madras, to name but a few.

Dear Simon,



You beat me to it.

I believe the more polite format is " legally enforceable or not" and I also believe the answer in UK is no but can still be inserted into yr starting contract with a "subject to employees agreement" proviso. And we all know what that means. First BRC, then 1984.




I agree. On my last visit to UK, I (and a cat) fascinatedly watched fish - filleting being elegantly carried out on a wooden surface at a small open-air establishment in Grimsby. "You pays your money and ..." Caveat emptor.


I found this that may help

Caz x

Rgds / Charles.C

Oh I agree Charles C you can get fairly unpleasant food poisoning in this country from eating establishments but it's about prevalence. In India (before I became a food bod), I once saw birds flying in and out of a kitchen where my dinner was being prepared and they laughed when I pointed out the 2 inch cockroach in my room. Food poisoning followed. Later on, I had b cereus poisoning but then I didn't know what I had, so I kept eating plain food (ie rice!) I had food prepared for me in the Thar desert and it was only when I was vomiting a day later I twigged there was no way anyone could have washed their hands. A few days after that, I had food poisoning from some dal in Pushkar. 4 definite bouts in 5 weeks and I suspect I had more as I had regular diarrhoea. I was only eating two meals a day so that's a fairly poor rate! I realise the UK ain't perfect, but it's not that bad either.

Dear GMO,

I realise the UK ain't perfect, but it's not that bad either

True, true. Perhaps you can thank the weather.

Rgds / Charles.C