Wilmette Foodborne Illness Advisory

In 2016, the CDC reported that 20% of food workers say they have worked at least one shift with vomiting or diarrhea in the past year. Is this a chance you want to take when eating out?

Wilmette is the only suburb among our North Shore neighbors whose elected leaders revoked the new laws that help protect restaurant diners from foodborne illness. Restaurants in the other communities are required to pay employees to stay home when sick; but not here.  74% of Wilmette voters supported earned sick leave, and our village’s leaders said NO.

CNN reported that “Norovirus particles spread whenever an infected person vomits or defecates. Because swallowing just 18 norovirus particles can sicken a new host, the virus spreads easily, especially when the infected patient is preparing food for a lot of people.”

What can I be exposed to?

• Nausea, diarrhea, fecal particles
• Norovirus
• Acute gastroenteritis

What can I do?

• Ask restaurants to provide earned sick time
• Tell trustees to protect diners

We don’t like one in five odds. Restore sick leave.