Allergen Training, UK Allergen Awareness Courses

Allergen awareness training is not a separate statutory qualification, but UK food businesses are legally required under the Food Information Regulations 2014 to provide accurate allergen information for every food they sell. EHOs expect staff to be trained, typically with a Level 2 Allergen Awareness certificate, to evidence that you have systems in place to comply.

Natashas Law (effective from October 2021) requires UK food businesses selling prepacked-for-direct-sale (PPDS) food to label every PPDS item with a full ingredients list and the 14 declarable allergens emphasised. This applies to any food packaged on your premises before being sold to the customer, grab-and-go sandwiches, packed salads, sushi boxes, deli items. Our allergen course covers PPDS labelling in detail.

Best practice is annual refresher training for any staff involved in prep, service or labelling. The Food Standards Agency does not mandate a specific frequency, but most EHOs and insurers expect documented annual refreshers for allergen handlers.

Food safety training (Level 2) includes a section on allergens within the broader food hygiene syllabus. Dedicated Level 2 Allergen Awareness goes much deeper into the 14 allergens, PPDS labelling, customer communication, and cross-contamination control. For any business serving allergen-sensitive customers, the dedicated allergen course is a worthwhile add-on for front-of-house and prep teams.