TFHC Allergen Awareness and Management 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: How many major food allergens are recognized by the FDA under the FASTER Act of 2021?
- 8
- 9 (Correct answer)
- 10
- 12
Correct answer: 9
The FASTER Act of 2021 added sesame as the 9th major food allergen recognized by the FDA, joining the previous eight.
Question 2: Which of the following is NOT one of the nine major food allergens recognized by the FDA?
- Tree nuts
- Sesame
- Corn (Correct answer)
- Shellfish
Correct answer: Corn
Corn is not among the nine major FDA-recognized allergens; the nine are milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans, and sesame.
Question 3: A customer tells your server they have a severe peanut allergy. What is the FIRST step a food handler should take?
- Notify the kitchen manager or chef immediately (Correct answer)
- Suggest the customer order a salad instead
- Check the menu for peanut-free items only
- Ask the customer to sign a waiver
Correct answer: Notify the kitchen manager or chef immediately
The first step is to notify the kitchen manager or chef immediately so all staff handling the order are aware and can take appropriate precautions.
Question 4: What does 'cross-contact' mean in the context of food allergens?
- When two employees touch the same surface
- When an allergen is unintentionally transferred from one food to another (Correct answer)
- When raw and cooked foods are stored together
- When food is cross-contaminated with bacteria
Correct answer: When an allergen is unintentionally transferred from one food to another
Cross-contact occurs when an allergen is unintentionally transferred from one food or surface to another, potentially causing an allergic reaction.
Question 5: Which practice BEST prevents allergen cross-contact in the kitchen?
- Using the same cutting board for all foods to save time
- Rinsing utensils with hot water between uses
- Using dedicated, labeled equipment for allergen-free meal preparation (Correct answer)
- Wearing gloves at all times regardless of task
Correct answer: Using dedicated, labeled equipment for allergen-free meal preparation
Using dedicated, labeled equipment for allergen-free preparations prevents allergen proteins from being transferred between foods.
Question 6: A guest has a tree nut allergy. The dessert they ordered is prepared near walnuts. What should the food handler do?
- Serve the dessert since walnuts were not an ingredient
- Inform the guest of the risk of cross-contact and consult the manager (Correct answer)
- Simply wipe down the prep area and proceed
- Tell the guest the kitchen cannot accommodate allergies
Correct answer: Inform the guest of the risk of cross-contact and consult the manager
Even if tree nuts are not a direct ingredient, proximity during preparation creates a cross-contact risk that must be disclosed to the guest and escalated to a manager.
Question 7: Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) can include which of the following?
- Mild stomach discomfort only
- Sneezing and runny nose only
- Throat swelling, difficulty breathing, and a drop in blood pressure (Correct answer)
- Headache and blurred vision only
Correct answer: Throat swelling, difficulty breathing, and a drop in blood pressure
Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening reaction that can cause throat swelling, difficulty breathing, a drop in blood pressure, and can be fatal without immediate treatment.
TFHC Allergen Awareness and Management 1
How many major food allergens are recognized by the FDA under the FASTER Act of 2021?