Restaurants Spread Norovirus

Think twice before approaching the salad bar. A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows food handlers cause 70 percent of all Norovirus outbreaks. It’s no wonder they are responsible for so many when one in five restaurant employees reportedly works even when suffering from two of the major Norovirus symptoms, diarrhea and vomiting. More than 90 percent of contamination occurs during food preparation, with the greatest risk among “ready to eat” foods like fruits and sandwiches, which are touched by workers’ bare hands. Thankfully, scientists are working on a vaccine against the Norovirus, but tread lightly around the fresh berries and pineapple until it launches.