SUMMARY

This course is designed to guide food service industry workers in understanding how they can protect customers from suffering a food related allergic reaction in their establishment. The course defines what a food allergy is and how it differs from a food intolerance. In addition to identifying the foods that most commonly cause allergic reactions, learners will also be presented with information that outlines how to recognize and respond to a food related allergic reaction. The course also presents effective strategies that food service businesses and workers can use to protect customers from food related allergic reactions.

CHALLENGES

The number of people with a food allergy in the U.S. is on the rise. According to the CDC, the number of people with food allergies has increased by about 50% in the last two decades. CDC findings also indicate that employee training might not be occurring according to recommendations and that nearly half of surveyed restaurants did not provide food allergy training for their staffs. The findings also revealed that the training provided often did not cover important information such as what to do if a customer has an allergic reaction. This course is meant to be a learning solution that helps address this issue.

ACTIONS

In conducting my research to create a learning solution for this challenge, I learned that food allergy training was inconsistent. So, knowing the target audience could have some background knowledge of the topic, I wanted the course to build on what learners already knew about the topic. Other criteria for the course included interactivity, some use of multimedia, and actionable strategies for addressing the issue. I also wanted the completion time for the course to be no more than one hour.

RESULTS

The intended outcome for this course is for food service industry workers to use effective strategies for preparing and serving allergen-free meals and to be able to respond appropriately to food related allergic actions if/when they arise.

Click here to see the completed course.