It's Not Fun, But It's Important!

DECEMBER 2, 2025

Cleaning up a bodily fluid incident is not fun, but it is very important in the food industry.

When someone has an incident in a food establishment, the big concern is that norovirus could spread to other customers or staff. Essential precautions should be taken to be sure that all bodily fluid incidents are cleaned up and disinfected properly. By following a few important steps, it is possible to protect staff and customers from picking up the norovirus bug. No one wants to be sick, so stop the spread immediately…at the source!

Excluding ill workers from food handling duties is a critical control measure in preventing the spread of foodborne illnesses, particularly norovirus. Norovirus is highly contagious and can be transmitted through contaminated food, surfaces, or direct contact with infected individuals. Infected food workers are a leading cause of outbreaks, often shedding the virus even before symptoms appear and up to several days after recovery. By ensuring that employees experiencing symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, or fever are excluded from food preparation and handling areas, food establishments can significantly reduce the risk of contamination.

Resources from the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing:

Guidance document to help develop your own procedure for responding to vomiting or diarrheal events,
Full facility norovirus cleaning reference document,
Norovirus clean-up posters:

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