The Big Six
Type of Contaminant
Allergens
Responding to a Foodborne Illness Outbreak
A.L.E.R.T
100

A foodborne virus whose symptoms include jaundice

What is Hepatitis A?

100

Bones in a fish filet

What is a physical contaminant?

100

Milk, Soy, Eggs, Wheat, Fish, Crustaceans, Peanuts, Tree Nuts, Sesame

What are the Big Nine Allergens?

100

Contacting the local regulatory authority if you suspect an outbreak.

What is notifying the authorities?

100

Knowing who is in your facility.

What is Employees?

200

A virus that is one of the leading causes of foodborne illness

What is Norovirus?

200

Sanitizer sprayed near food 

What is a chemical contaminant?

200

Wheezing, difficulty breathing, hives, rashes, itching, tingling in the mouth, swelling (tongue and throat), abdominal cramps, diarrhea, blood pressure drop, loss of consciousness

What are food allergy symptoms?

200

Setting the contaminated product aside and labelling with "Do Not Use" and "Do Not Discard" 

What is segregating the product?

200

Making sure that products you receive are from safe sources.

What is Assure?

300

A bacteria found in the intestines of cattle

What is Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) or E. coli?

300

Salmonella spp.

What is a biological contaminant?

300

When allergens are transferred from food or food-contact surfaces to the food served to the allergic customer

What is cross-contact?

300

Writing down a suspected product description, production date, and lot number as well as its sell-by-date and pack size.

What is documenting information?

300

Monitoring the security of products in the facility.

What is Look?

400

A bacteria that only lives in humans

What is Salmonella Typhi?

400

Giardia duodenalis

What is a biological contaminant?

400

A severe, life-threatening allergic reaction that can lead to death

What is anaphylaxis?

400

Maintaining a list of food handlers scheduled at the time of the suspected contamination.

What is identifying staff?

400

Keeping information related to food defense accessible.

What is Reports?

500

A bacteria that is known to be spread by hands and flies.

What is Shigella spp.?

500

Tomato juice in a copper pot

What is a chemical contaminant?

500

Cooking different types of food, such as shrimp and chicken, in the same fryer oil.

What is cross-contact?

500

Providing appropriate information to the regulatory authorities, such as temperature logs or staff files.

What is cooperating with authorities?

500

Identifying what you will do and who you will contact.

What is Threats?