Have you heard of food allergies or food intolerance? If you prepare or serve food to children in schools, workers on worksites, or patients and staff in hospitals, you need to be aware of food allergies and what to do to ensure safety for all. 

Food allergies can have major risks on a person’s life. You need to know what to do in an emergency. Food handlers must work correctly by following required work standards to be able to help diners who have food allergies avoid the food that makes them sick. 

In this chapter, you will learn about: 

• The dangers of allergens
• Why it is important to serve food that is free from allergens
• How to recognize common symptoms of a food allergy
• The most common food allergens
• Ways to keep allergens from harming diners
• What to do in an emergency