Under Massachusetts law, 105 CMR 590.011, retail food establishments must complete a comprehensive food allergen awareness training and display a poster that highlights major food allergens. All food establishments must ensure their staff are knowledgeable about major food allergens and their associated risks.
What changed?
Effective October 7, 2024, the Bureau of Climate and Environmental Health’s Food Protection Program has issued an updated guidance on allergen awareness training requirements for food establishments and a new employee poster. The poster must include the nine major food allergens: milk, egg, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, wheat, peanuts, soybeans and sesame.
Who must post?
Food establishments that “cook, prepare, or serve food intended for immediate consumption either on or off the premises” must display a poster approved by the Massachusetts Department of Health that includes the following information:
- Major food allergens;
- Health risks of food allergies;
- Procedure to follow when a customer states that he or she has a food allergy; and
- Emergency procedure to follow if a customer has an allergic reaction to a food.
The poster must be displayed in the employee work area, and be no smaller than 8.5″ x 11.”(105 CMR 590.011(C)(1))