Food Allergy Awareness Online Training Course

This Food Allergy Awareness Training course is designed to help learners identify the fourteen particular food allergens which must be recognised by law, and to understand why foods containing allergens must be handled carefully.

Did you know that there is no cure for food allergies and intolerances? One mistake with allergens can cause life-threatening harm, which is why proper allergen control is essential for every food and beverage business. 

Keep your customers safe

Our allergy-focused food safety training will teach you how to confidently handle allergen enquiries and prevent cross-contamination to keep customers safe.

Stay legally compliant

With Natasha's Law PPDS Regulations now in effect, it’s your job to understand your responsibilities to the latest food information regulations. Our RoSPA Assured training covers all current legal requirements so your knowledge is up to date.

Expand your professional knowledge

• Master the identification and handling of all 14 most common allergens
• Learn effective communication with customers about ingredients
• Develop confidence in managing emergency situations
• Earn three CPD points for your professional development

Course content

The Food Allergy and Intolerance Training is there for workers to understand the 14 allergens that can be present in food, and the difference between a food allergy and an intolerance. The course is also there to show the best way to stop contamination for the safety of customers and the workers themselves.

By the end of this allergen awareness course, learners will be able to:

• Understand what both a food allergy and intolerance are
• Learn to recognise the symptoms of an allergic reaction
• Know which ingredients could cause allergies
• Understand what allergy information is required on pre-packed food labels
• Understand what to consider regarding customer safety
• Know how to provide allergen information specific to their food business

Certification & assessment

We believe in making certification straightforward and impactful, which is why we’re proud to have a 75% pass mark. Our assessment process will test what you’ve learned. You’ll have:

• Practical multiple-choice questions that test your understanding
• Six attempts at passing
• An instant digital certificate upon completion

Once completed, your certification demonstrates to employers and customers that you take food safety seriously.

Course accreditation

Our Food Allergy Awareness Training Course is RoSPA Assured and the certificate, awarded upon successful completion of the training, includes the RoSPA logo.

The content of the Food Allergy Awareness Training Course has been independently certified as conforming to universally accepted Continuous Professional Development (CPD) guidelines.

Certification

Upon completion of any of our courses, learners will be able to download a digital certificate from Virtual College which will include the accrediting bodies logo where applicable, the learner's name, the title of the course and the date of completion.

If you have purchased the posted certificate option, available on selected courses, a high quality, seal embossed, certificate will be sent out by Royal Mail delivery.

Self-Printed Certificate Option

Upon completion of the course, a digital certificate will be available to download instantly.

Recommended renewal: 3 years

Whilst none of our certificates have an expiry date it is strongly recommended that the training is completed every three years. This is based on industry best practice to ensure awareness and knowledge of the latest guidance and legislation.

Legislation

The key legislation governing food allergens is the Food Information for Consumers Regulation 2014, an EU ruling designed to ensure that individuals with allergies can easily and reliably identify foods that are safe for consumption.

A central requirement of this regulation is that any pre-packaged food containing one or more of the 14 specified allergens must be clearly labelled, enabling consumers to make informed choices.

Food handlers have a legal duty of care to take all reasonable precautions to ensure that the food they produce, sell, and serve is safe. As such, allergy awareness training is essential to help identify potential allergen risks and prevent reactions.

This course provides learners with the knowledge needed to protect customers, including understanding which foods are safest for individuals with allergies.

Legislation covered includes:

EU Food Information Regulation No. 1169/2011 (FIR) / Food Information for Consumers Regulation (FIC)

Article 14 of the EU General Food Law Regulation 178/2002

The 14 main allergens

The 14 allergens that must be labelled or indicated as being present on packaging are as follows:

• Celery
• Cereals containing gluten
• Crustaceans
• Eggs
• Fish
• Lupin
• Milk
• Molluscs – such as mussels and oysters
• Mustard
• Nuts - including almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, brazil nuts, cashews, pecans, pistachios and macadamia nuts
• Peanuts
• Sesame seeds
• Soybeans
• Sulphur dioxide and sulphites

Course duration

The Food Allergy Awareness Training Course should take one to two hours to complete, but this depends entirely on how quickly each individual learns and absorbs the study material.

As the course is self-paced and progress is recorded throughout, learners can complete the training in stages.

Entry requirements

There are no specific entry requirements for this course.

This course is not a formal RQF Food Safety & Hygiene qualification, as the RQF levels only indicate the type of course so that businesses can choose whom it is suitable for.

Suitable for

This allergen training course is for anyone who owns, manages or works in a food-related business as they need to make sure their operations are compliant with EU Food Information for Consumers Regulation No.1169/2011 / Food Information for Consumers Regulation (FIC) and Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No. 78 / 2014 amending Annex II to Regulation (EU) No 1169 / 2011.

The Food Allergy Awareness Training Course is therefore suitable for food handlers, as well as those with a role that involves contact with food or managing workers who do.

Some people who would require an allergy awareness course are:

• Food business owners and managers responsible for compliance with EU Food Information Regulation No. 1169/2011 (FIR) / Food Information for Consumers Regulation (FIC)
• Kitchen staff and food handlers
• Restaurant and café owners
• Hotel and catering managers
• School and hospital kitchen teams
• Takeaway and fast food staff
• Food retail workers
• Anyone whose role involves contact with food

Whether you're responsible for a team or working in hands-on food preparation, this food allergy course will help you become allergy-aware in your role.