Allergy Awareness

Hello. I am new to the Forum and am a practicing Public Health Inspector/Food Safety Consultant in Vancouver, BC, Canada. I provide training, writing and consulting services to the foodservice industry. My question is regarding allergy awareness. Are there regulations in the UK or other parts of the world requiring food handlers to be knowledgeable in potential allergens? We don't have any requirements in Canada so I would like to know if other countries do. Thanks very much. Sally 

Dear Sally,

though I am not aware of any legal regulations imposed by governments regarding allergen awareness of food handlers, it is a requirement to provide allergen awareness training for all relevent personnel of the food industry in order to obtain the BRC standard for food safety (issue 6) certificate, under the clause 5.2.9.

Marlon just to say BRC is now on issue 7.

My understanding is that were an Environmental Health Officer to find that no allergen training had taken place, you would probably lose your licence. Not certain though, but probably not worth risking. All allergens have to be declared even in foodservice.

EU legislation requires allergen awareness as part of food handler training.

From the Food Standard Authority of Ireland website: "It is a legal requirement that staff who are involved in a food environment are trained and/or supervised commensurate with their work activity. The responsibility for the supervision and training of staff lies with the proprietor of the food business."

Allergen awareness comes in under hazards. Go to the fsai website they have lots of good information there on training.

In the US, ServSafe training (which is mandated for food service in most, if not all, states) for retail includes allergenawareness.

From the web site:

ServSafe® Allergens Online Course and Assessment

The ServSafe Allergens ™ online, interactive course drives home critical information your employees and managers need in order to accommodate guests with food allergies. The ServSafe Allergens online course covers such topics as identifying allergens, communication with the guest, preventing cross-contact, food labels and more. Massachusetts Residents, this course is NOT accepted in your state. Please click HERE to access our Approved MA Allergens Course and earn your MA Allergens Certificate.