Which symptom should prevent a food handler from working with food?

A sore throat accompanied by a fever is a significant symptom that should prevent a food handler from working with food. This combination of symptoms can indicate an infectious illness, such as strep throat or another type of communicable disease. When food handlers have a sore throat with fever, there is a heightened risk of transmitting pathogens to the food, which can lead to foodborne illnesses.

In food safety, maintaining hygiene and preventing cross-contamination is essential to ensure that food does not become contaminated with harmful bacteria or viruses that can affect consumers' health. Food handlers exhibiting such symptoms should refrain from working until they are cleared by a healthcare professional to prevent any potential outbreak in a food establishment.