Food Allergen Awareness (level 2)

£65 per person

This course will develop your knowledge and raise awareness of food allergens. Develop your understanding of how to safely manage food and the precautions that need to be taken to ensure it meets strict government criteria and is safe for consumption. You will learn about the characteristics of food allergens and intolerances, the importance of allergen management and the requirements of providing correct allergen information to consumers.

Under the new Food Information regulations 2014, staff need to know about the 14 major food allergens and this half day course covers all the knowledge they require to adhere to legislation. This course also covers Natasha’s Law and also the change of legislation in October 2021 for pre-packed goods for direct sale.

It is critical that everyone responsible for preparing, handling and packaging food (plus food business operators) is fully aware of what could trigger an allergic reaction, and understands the precautions that must be taken. Food that might be perfectly safe for one person to eat may also be harmful to another, resulting in allergic reactions that can range from mild to life-threatening.

In addition to the danger to public health, this can create risks for organisations managing food items across any part of its cycle, from production to plate. There are large fines in place for non-compliance with strict government regulations, in addition to the risk to the success and reputation of your organisation.

This course covers the basics of food allergen awareness. It will teach you about the foods that commonly trigger allergic reactions and the vital information that needs to be communicated to consumers.

• Food allergies, intolerances and Coeliac disease
• The 14 regulated allergens
• Food labelling requirements
• The importance of practical allergen management
• Providing complete and accurate allergen information to consumers

This course also covers the legal responsibilities of allergen labelling and allergen declaration which will enable learners to comply with their duties under the EU General Food Law Regulation No.178/2002, the Food Information Regulations 2014 and the Food Safety Act 1990.

It will also ensure that your employees and business are aware of how to comply with the UK Food Information Amendment, also known as Natasha’s Law, which came into effect on 1 October 2021. This requires all businesses in England, Northern Ireland and Wales to provide full lists of ingredients and allergen labelling on foods prepacked for direct sale (PPDS) on the premises.