A member of a food handler's family is suffering from food poisoning. What should the food handler do first?

The first action a food handler should take when a family member is suffering from food poisoning is to inform their manager immediately. This step is crucial because it ensures that the food establishment can assess any potential risk to the safety of the food being served. Foodborne illnesses can often be transmitted from one person to another, and if the food handler is carrying a pathogen, they could unintentionally spread it to customers or coworkers.

By notifying the manager, appropriate measures can be taken, such as monitoring the food handler for symptoms, conducting an investigation into food safety practices, and potentially implementing additional health and safety protocols to prevent a wider outbreak. This proactive communication helps safeguard public health and maintain the integrity of the food operation.

In other options, trying to determine the source of the food poisoning or staying home may not address the immediate responsibilities in a food safety context. Simply doing nothing because the family member is not in the food industry misses the potential risk to others, which is why immediate reporting to a manager is the most responsible course of action.