Over twenty customers who bought sliced ham at a deli have reported having severe nausea and vomiting. What must the manager do immediately?

• A. Close the deli and notify the regulatory authority
• B. Issue refunds
• C. Postpone service
• D. Contact suppliers

Answer: (A)

When customers show signs of a possible foodborne illness after eating, the immediate priority is to protect public health by stopping service and triggering an official response. Closing the deli stops any further exposure and helps prevent a wider outbreak. Notifying the regulatory authority is essential because health officials will investigate, provide guidance on handling the suspected contaminated food, and determine the necessary steps to protect customers, such as additional inspections, recalls, or sanitation actions. While refunds or contacting suppliers might be part of the broader response, they do not address stopping the exposure or initiating an official investigation as quickly as closing the operation and alerting the proper authorities.