Food Safety Allergen Training for Food Service Employees

Early in 2011 the Minnesota Food Code Rule Revision Committee voted overwhelmingly to adopt the Food and Drug Administration food allergen recommendations. The committee agreed to adopt language regarding training:

"Employees are properly trained in food safety, including food allergy awareness, as it relates to their assigned duties."

The Food Allergen Subcommittee encouraged Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Minnesota Department of Health, and the University of Minnesota, to develop training to address food allergen issues. Taking a proactive approach, our team decided to develop an online food allergen training course. We worked in consultation with an advisory group representing industry, regulatory, academia, and food service employees.

The course is approximately one hour in length and provides interactive activities, real life situations, decision making and application of concepts. By the end of the course, learners will be able to make informed decisions and provide safe food to the people they serve.