Who knew what, when? A common theme in foodborne illness outbreak management is how was the essential information managed and responded to (whether it was knowledge of a contaminated product, linked illnesses or reporting an infected food handler). As more information trickles out about a food handler-linked Hepatitis A outbreak in Milan, Illinois it gets more confusing as to when the operator knew about the illness. Today a customer came forward and claims overhearing the discussion:

The woman says she was waiting in line to order at the McDonalds in Milan on June 25th, when she heard employee Cheryl Schram approach a manager behind the counter.
”She came out and she said Michelle, I was diagnosed with Hepatitis A”, said the woman who doesn’t want her name used. ”I was in there and I heard her say that”.
The customer says she knows what she heard that day. ”I swear on my mothers grave”.

This week’s food safety infosheet is all about the Hep A outbreak. Download it here.