Managing Food Allergies (80m Lecture)

Exposure to food allergens can result in a severe allergic reaction and even death. At the 2013 NEHA Annual Education Conference (AEC), the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) held a learning lab to help environmental health professionals better understand food safety issues that are specific to schools. During this session, attendees indicated that they need more information to effectively help schools develop, implement, and evaluate their allergy management plans. Nearly 86 percent of schools, nationwide, have one or more students with food allergies. Schools participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) are required to accommodate students with food allergies by substituting safe meal alternatives. This session will provide environmental health professionals with information they need to help schools, and other retail food establishments, develop and implement allergy management plans. 

 Attendees will understand the current provisions in the FDA Food Code related to allergen management in retail food establishments; learn about the NSLP requirements and available resources that can guide the development and implementation of school food allergy management programs; and discover how industry partners are using best practices in food allergy management and get ideas about how to apply these practices in their jurisdictions. Finally, participants will have an opportunity to ask a panel of experts from the USDA FNS, FDA, NEHA, and industry questions about managing food allergies in foodservice operations.