Certified Professional Food Safety (CP-FS) Practice Exam

What is an example of an imminent health hazard that could lead to the immediate closure of a food establishment?

1. Food spoilage

2. Sewage back-up

3. Minor pest infestation

4. Employee illness

The correct answer is: Sewage back-up

Sewage back-up is recognized as an imminent health hazard because it poses a direct risk to the health and safety of both food employees and consumers. When sewage backs up, it can contaminate food preparation areas, utensils, and surfaces, leading to potential exposure to harmful pathogens and bacteria. This contamination can occur rapidly, which makes it critical for the food establishment to take immediate action to protect public health. The presence of sewage in a food establishment can compromise the overall sanitation of the environment, making it difficult or impossible to maintain safe food handling practices. Therefore, when such a hazard is identified, health authorities typically mandate an immediate closure to prevent further risk of foodborne illness outbreaks. Other scenarios, like food spoilage, minor pest infestations, or employee illness, while certainly serious, do not always require immediate closure. They can often be managed or rectified without the urgent need for shutting down operations, allowing for corrective actions that maintain safety without the same level of risk to health as sewage issues present.