Which action is required if illness reports emerge after customers purchase ham at a deli?

• A. Increase staff
• B. Notify suppliers only
• C. Monitor customers
• D. Close the deli and notify the regulatory authority

Answer: (D)

When illness reports surface after customers have eaten ham, the immediate priority is to protect public health by stopping service and involving authorities. Closing the deli prevents further exposure while investigators determine the source, check handling and storage practices, and decide if a product recall or other corrective actions are needed. Notifying the regulatory authority ensures a formal investigation and proper guidance to control the situation. Merely increasing staff or monitoring customers doesn’t address the immediate risk or trigger an official inquiry, and notifying suppliers alone doesn’t manage the health threat or investigation.