Food Allergen Awareness Flashcards
7 cards from real Food Safety practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Food Allergen Awareness flashcards as text
Which of the following is classified as a 'tree nut' under FDA allergen guidelines?
Answer: Coconut
Coconut is classified as a tree nut by the FDA, so it must be declared as a major allergen on food labels even though many people do not consider it a traditional nut.
An advisory statement such as 'May contain traces of peanuts' on a food label is:
Answer: Voluntary and not regulated by FALCPA
Precautionary allergen labeling (PAL) such as 'may contain' statements is voluntary and not federally mandated; FALCPA only requires labeling of intentional allergen ingredients.
When a customer with a fish allergy orders a dish, which question is MOST important to ask the kitchen?
Answer: Was the dish cooked in the same oil used to fry fish?
Shared frying oil can carry allergenic fish proteins that transfer to other foods, making it a critical cross-contact risk that must be assessed.
Gluten is NOT a major allergen under the FDA's nine allergens, but which grain on the allergen list contains gluten?
Answer: Wheat
Wheat is one of the nine major allergens recognized by the FDA; while rye and barley also contain gluten, only wheat is specifically listed as a major allergen.
What is the recommended procedure if a food handler accidentally uses a shared utensil on an allergen-free plate?
Answer: Discard the food and prepare a completely new allergen-free dish
Once cross-contact occurs, the food must be discarded because allergen proteins cannot be removed by cooking, rinsing, or wiping; a new dish must be prepared.
Which staff member in a food service operation bears the PRIMARY responsibility for ensuring allergen information is communicated accurately to guests?
Answer: The entire front-of-house and back-of-house team
Allergen management is a team responsibility; servers, cooks, managers, and all staff must communicate and cooperate to ensure guest safety from order to plate.
Soybeans are one of the nine major allergens. Which commonly used food ingredient is derived from soy and must be labeled accordingly?
Answer: Tofu
Tofu is made from soybeans and must be labeled as containing soy under FALCPA; other soy-derived ingredients like soy lecithin and soy protein also require disclosure.