1. Safe Plates for Home Food Handlers Module 6: Food Allergens

2. Case Study

3. What Happened 17-year-old Joe has several severe food allergies
A few bites into the sandwich he realizes that something isn’t right
His throat and lips start to itch and swell, making it hard to breathe
Allergic reaction had to be treated with Epinephrine and required a trip to the emergency room

4. What They Found The homemade sandwiches hadn’t been labeled
Joe accidentally grabbed his sister’s peanut butter and jelly sandwich instead of his sandwich made with sunflower seed butter
Joe’s reaction was serious after a couple bites

5. Discussion
What would you do to prevent something like this from happening in class or at home?
Allergens were not properly labeled, employee didn’t know ingredients, or possibly, someone added walnut to a recipe that wasn’t supposed to have it

6. Learning Objectives
Identify the eight major food allergens in the United States
Know that food allergens can impact job duties including preparing food, handling customer information needs and responding to suspected allergic reactions

7. Key Terms
Cross-contact – when an allergen is unintentionally transferred from a food containing an allergen to a food that does not contain the allergen
Food allergy – an abnormal immune response to proteins in food
Food intolerance – inability to digest chemicals in food that leads to uncomfortable symptoms

8. Food Allergens

9. Can you name any common food allergens?
Over 12 million Americans suffer from one or more food allergies. Between 5 and 8% of children and 1 to 2% of adults have some type of allergic reaction to foods. Allergies can come on anytime during someone’s life
The Food and Drug Administration requires that foods be labeled conspicuously if they contain allergens listed in this slide.
The only way we can avoid illness or a reaction from consumption of allergens is through labeling and ensuring that the person allergic to the food does not consume the food product.

10. Reactions to Food
Food allergy – the body's immune system has an abnormal reaction to proteins in a food
Reactions can be life threatening
Food intolerance – the body doesn’t digest certain chemicals properly
Cause uncomfortable symptoms such as vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea
Examples: Wheat gluten, lactose intolerance
Food and drug allergies are diseases of the immune system.
Intolerances and sensitivities are reactions of your digestive system not immune system.

11. Allergic Reactions Allergic reactions can be mild to very severe
Symptoms can be almost immediate, or take up to a couple hours
Mild reactions can include itching, eye and throat irritation, hives, swelling
Severe reactions can include anaphylactic shock, closing of the airway, cardiac arrest
Some people will wear a medical alert bracelet or necklace. Many do not.
Reactions can vary person to person; sometimes reactions to various allergens also differ for one person.

12. Food Allergies
This is an accurate depiction of what some people experience during anaphylaxis

13. Preventing Cross-Contact
Cross-contact occurs when an allergen is unintentionally transferred from a food containing an allergen to a food that does not contain the allergen. Cooking and sanitizing do not eliminate the risk.
Storage – separate and properly label allergens
Handling – clean utensils and surfaces after contact with allergens
Surfaces – Clean between allergen an non-allergen foods
Handwashing – both preparation and service
Buffet service – label service utensils and communicate with customers
How do you think you can control allergens in these areas?
Storage
Handling
Surfaces
Handwashing
Buffet service

14. Handling and Serving Allergens
Be sure to wash hands when switching from allergen to non-allergen foods
Use separate preparation and cooking surfaces or clean between foods
Use separate utensils when serving food
Label or color code to prevent confusion

15. Reacting to Emergencies
Plan ahead for a quick response, including who will call 911
Understand what may happen
Epinephrine injections
Customers’ reactions
Alert a responsible adult if you suspect a allergic reaction
If someone receives an epinephrine shot they should go to the emergency room for observation and possibly further treatment

16. Discussion
You’re having a cook out at your house. Your cousin is allergic to dairy and asked about whether or not there is any dairy in the homemade burgers. You think the burger should be fine without cheese but you aren’t positive. How should you respond? Where could allergens be hiding?

17. Review Eight major allergens
Preventing cross-contact during preparation and handling
Answering customer questions
Reacting to emergencies