Iowa Food Allergy Training Course
Iowa Food Allergy Training
Food allergy training could be the difference between life or death for a patron of your food service business. Food allergy training is designed to guide food service employees (management, cooks, and servers - FOH/BOH staff) in the best practices for safely serving food allergic guests.
Researchers estimate that up to 15 million Americans have food allergies, including 5.9 million children under age 18 - that’s 1 in 13 children. Moreover, about 30% of children with food allergies are allergic to more than one food. Source: Food Allergy Research & Education
The Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA) identifies 8 foods or food groups as the major food allergens. They are milk, eggs, fish (e.g., bass, flounder, cod), crustacean shellfish (e.g., crab, lobster, shrimp), tree nuts (e.g., almonds, walnuts, pecans), peanuts, wheat, and soybeans. They account for 90% of all allergic reactions.
Food Handler Training
Iowa food handler safety training is for workers in the food service industry involved in the preparing, storing, and/or handling of food. The food handler safety training course outlines basic safe food sanitation and preparation principles and procedures used to maintain a food safe environment.
Certified Food Managers
Iowa food service establishments and businesses generally need to have a certified food manager (CFM). The Food Safety Manager Principles Course provides the necessary training for a food manager to prepare for the nationally-accredited ANSI Certification Exam. The ANSI Certification Exam certifies that a food manager has the knowledge required to manage a food safe environment.
Iowa Food Allergy & Safety Training Courses
- Food Allergy Training
- Food Handler Training
- Food Manager Training & ANSI Exam
Food Allergy Training
Course Description
The Food Allergy Training Course is designed to educate all restaurant and food service workers – from the server and hostess in the front of the house, to the manager and executive chef, to the line cook in the back of the house – about the severity of food allergies and the precautions that must be taken.
The training course will cover what is a food allergy, the different types of food allergens, how to identify symptoms of a food allergic reaction and what to do if a food allergic reaction occurs in a restaurant food service environment.
The course will also cover the best practices for restaurant employees to serve a food allergic customer including: the role of management, how to properly prepare an allergen safe meal for a food allergic customer, the front of the house and back of the house responsibilities.
Audience: Owners, managers, supervisors, food servers, chefs, cooks, mobile food vendors, bartenders, host/hostesses that handle food, bussers, caterers, and wait staff.
Credit Hours: 1 hr
Learning Objectives:
Upon completion of this course, student will be able to:
- Define a food allergy, including the top 8 food allergens and sources of each.
- Recognize the difference between a food allergy and food intolerance.
- Identify symptoms of a food allergic reaction.
- Describe the protocol for notifying emergency response if a food allergic reaction occurs.
- Discuss best practices for serving a food allergic customer, including the role of management, front of the house and back of the house employees.
- Describe how to properly prepare an allergen safe meal for a food allergic customer.
- Analyze a case study on how to properly serve a food allergic guest.
Course Topics:
Lesson 1: Overview of Food Allergens
Lesson 2: Allergy vs. Food Intolerance
Lesson 3: The Top 8 Allergens
Lesson 4: Importance of Allergen Control Plans in Commercial Food Service
Lesson 5: Recognizing Symptoms of an Allergic Reaction
Lesson 6: Facility Management: Handling Food Safely for Allergen Guests
Lesson 7: Communicating in a Restaurant: Management, FOH, BOH, and Service Staff
Lesson 8: Allergic Scenario: Customer Interaction
End of Course Test – Print Your Training Certificate
As soon as you complete the Food Allergy Training Course – you will then be required to take the End of Course Test.
With a minimum passing score of 70% on the test, you will be able to download and print your certificate of completion.
Individuals who do not pass the test on the first attempt will be allowed one additional attempt to review the course content and pass the test.
Iowa General Food Safety State Requirements
Iowa food safety and sanitation are integral to operating a successful food service. The safety of our food supply is a responsibility shared by consumers, producers, sellers and handlers. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that because of foodborne illness 76 million people fall ill, 325,000 are hospitalized and 5,000 Americans die annually. Because of these alarming statistics, many states require certification of food managers which may include a food safety exam.
Why is food safety training and certification so important and why do states require it? The answer is very simple. Every consumer deserves and has the right to be served food that is safe to eat. Now you can help make food more safe and earn your state-approved Food Handler Training or Food Manager Certification entirely online anytime!
Iowa Food Safety Regulations:
- Iowa Administrative Code Chapter 481-30. Food and Consumer Safety (PDF)
- Iowa Food and Consumer Safety: https://dia.iowa.gov/food-consumer-safety
- Iowa Food Safety License and Applications: https://dia.iowa.gov/food-consumer-safety/food-safety-license-applications
Food Truck and Food Vendor:
- Iowa Food and Consumer Safety – Food Establishment License Application (PDF) – Iowa law prohibits a food establishment or food processing plant from opening or operating until a license has first been obtained from the appropriate regulatory authority (covers Food Service Retail Food, and Mobile Food operations).
- Iowa Food and Consumer Safety – Farmers Market License Application (PDF)
- Iowa Food and Consumer Safety – Temporary Food License Application (PDF)
- Iowa City – Mobile Vending Association
- City of Des Moines – Transient Mobile Food Vendor (PDF)
- City of Dubuque – Mobile Food Unit Requirements
- City of Ames – Mobile Vending
Iowa Food Safety Contact Info
Iowa Department of Inspections
Lucas State Office Building
321 East 12th Street
Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0083
515-281-7102
https://dia.iowa.gov/food-consumer-safety
Major cities served: Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Sioux City, Iowa City, Waterloo, Council Bluffs, Ames, West Des Moines, Dubuque, Ankeny, Urbandale, Cedar Falls, Marion, Bettendorf, Mason City, and many more!
Iowa Food Safety Local Requirements
