Free allergen training in the US (2025)

With menus becoming more complex and packed with diverse ingredients, keeping track of potential allergens can feel overwhelming. With food allergen training, you can make sure your team is prepared to handle these challenges.

In this article, we’ll break down everything you need to know about food allergy and intolerance training, including who should be the ones taking it.

What is allergen training?

The food industry is delicate. One mistake from the kitchen could mean the difference between a hearty meal or a life-and-death situation. Because of this, strict regulations are always in place and compliance expectations are high. Allergen training can help keep your team well-trained to avoid costly mistakes and earn customers’ trust.

Food allergy training teaches teams in the food industry how to identify allergens, prevent cross-contamination, and handle allergy-related emergencies. It allows your team to make sure that dining is safe for everyone.

Who should receive training in allergen awareness?

The world of food and beverage covers a large range of responsibilities, so it’s no surprise that allergen awareness training can benefit not just one role. Here’s a breakdown of who should receive this critical training:

• Front-of-house and servers: They’re the main points of contact for customers, especially those with food allergies. Training equips them with the knowledge to ask the right questions and give accurate information about menu items for a safer dining experience.

• Cooks and kitchen staff: They handle the food from start to finish. Without proper training, even a small mistake—like using the wrong utensil or misreading an ingredient label—can have serious consequences for customers with food allergies.

• Restaurant managers: The primary person who sets the tone for safety, compliance, and customer care. Allergen training helps them stay on top of legal requirements, enhance customer safety, and set an example for the team.

• Food handlers: They’re directly involved with food preparation and service. Training them on allergen awareness helps them identify allergens in the food they prepare. This way, they can communicate it to customers who can then make an informed choice on what they should eat.

Federal guidelines on allergen training in the US

With food allergies on the rise, allergen awareness has become a top priority in the food service industry. To keep up, many states have rolled out specific training requirements for food handlers, managers, and kitchen staff to protect customers’ safety.

At the federal level, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Food Code establishes the best practices for safe food handling, preparation, and service. This reduces the chances of cross-contamination, which is important in managing allergens.

Meanwhile, the Food Allergy Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA) requires that packaged food be clearly labeled, especially if it contains one of the major allergens indicated in the said law.

For teams looking to take the first step toward compliance in the US, Mitti’s Allergen Awareness (US) course is a great resource to refresh their knowledge on the basic dos and don’ts of food handling.

Recommended allergen awareness refresher training per state (for California, Illinois, and New York)

As the conversation around food allergies grows, so does the push for comprehensive training programs that meet regulatory standards. Many states have implemented state-specific allergen training requirements. Let’s explore some of them below:

California (CA)

In California, allergen awareness training requirements are mostly guided by the Natalie Giorgi Sunshine Act. Enacted in honor of Natalie Giorgi, a 13-year-old who passed away during summer camp after a severe peanut allergy, this Act mandates that all food handlers receive an allergen awareness certification in safe food handling practices.

This means that food handlers in California are required to take and complete a training course that involves identifying major allergens, recognizing allergic reaction symptoms, and reporting food allergy incidents.

The California Health and Safety Code (HSC) Section 113947 also calls for every food facility’s person-in-charge to understand allergens and educate other team members about them. Whether through posters, job aids, or hands-on training, they’re tasked to make sure everyone on the team knows how to handle allergens safely.

Free refresher course: Allergen Awareness Refresher Training (CA)

Illinois (IL)

In Illinois, the Food Allergy Awareness Training Act (410 ILCS 625/3.07) obligates all certified food protection managers (CFPMs) to complete an allergen awareness training program accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

These CFPMs are expected to renew their certification every three years, making sure that their training covers essential topics on the following:

• Definition of a food allergy

• Symptoms of allergic reactions

• Major food allergens

• Dangers associated with allergens

• Cross-contact prevention

• Proper cleaning methods to avoid allergen contamination

• Communication about allergens with guests and staff

Other food handlers who don’t have a CFPM certification are not required to complete this training. However, it’s strongly recommended that they brush up on the fundamentals of food allergens to keep customer safety a top priority.

Free refresher course: Allergen Awareness Refresher Training (IL)

New York (NY)

The New York State Department of Health and New York State Department of Agriculture and Market rolled out a new initiative for food establishments all over New York. It requires them to post an allergen awareness notice in a place easily accessible and clearly visible to all employees who are part of food preparation and service.

The notice must outline what procedure to follow when staff are informed about a food allergy, what to do to avoid cross-contact, and what to do if a customer has an allergic reaction.

Implemented as of 20 May 2023, this initiative aims to teach food service staff about the threats posed by food allergens. So they can protect their customers and be prepared to offer assistance during an emergency.

The Assembly Bill A01397 was recently proposed last January 2025, which requires food service establishments to have at least one manager complete an allergen awareness training within 30 days of their hiring date. Much like what’s mandated in Illinois, the training must cover major allergens and best food safety practices.

Free refresher course: Allergen Awareness Refresher Training (NY)

Elevate your team’s allergen awareness with Mitti’s refresher courses

With allergen awareness requirements tightening in places all over the US, food service managers and teams are looking for kitchen training programs that go beyond checking a compliance box. They want something practical, accessible, and effective.

Mitti (by SafetyCulture) offers a large library of online courses packed with allergen awareness insights to help food service professionals stay ahead of the curve. It’s a smart solution for teams looking to boost their knowledge, meet regulations, and create safer dining experiences.

Thanks to its Create with AI feature, managers can easily create a training outline with a single click, eliminating the need for long hours to cook up the best training program for your team.

Take your kitchen training to the next level. Keep your team sharp and your customers safe by joining Mitti (by SafetyCulture) today.