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Discounts apply automatically at checkout and scale with your order. You can even mix and match different courses — allergen, food hygiene and HACCP — across your team, with the discount applied to your entire basket.
Level 2 Food Allergen Awareness Course
Understand the 14 allergens, the law and safe handling — online, self-paced and certified the moment you pass.
Course at a glance
- Level
- 2 — allergen awareness
- Format
- Online · any device
- Duration
- Around 100 minutes
- Modules
- 8 modules
- Assessment
- Multiple-choice exam
- Pass mark
- 80% · free retakes
- Certificate
- Digital PDF + printed copy
- Accreditation
- CPD · RoSPA · IoH
What is the Level 2 Food Allergen Awareness Course?
The Level 2 Food Allergen Awareness Course is an online food safety course that helps anyone in the food industry understand the risks associated with allergens and how to manage them safely. With allergic reactions on the rise, it’s become essential training for staff in food handling, hospitality, catering and retail.
Covering food allergies, intolerances and the 14 allergens controlled by UK law, the course helps you recognise the symptoms of a reaction, prevent cross-contamination, and communicate allergen information clearly to customers. It also covers the internal and external procedures for monitoring and reviewing your allergen controls.
Developed in line with the Food Information Regulations and Natasha’s Law, and studied entirely online at your own pace on any device, you’ll receive an instant digital certificate the moment you pass — with a printed copy posted the next working day.
Part of safe food handling. Allergen control is a core part of food safety, so this course pairs well with the Level 2 or Level 3 Food Hygiene Certificate and the HACCP Level 2 Course.
What you’ll learn
This course provides essential knowledge and practical guidance on managing allergens in food settings, including:
- The difference between food allergies, food intolerances and general allergies
- The causes, symptoms and severity of allergic reactions
- The 14 allergens recognised by UK law, plus food additives
- How allergens must be labelled and communicated to consumers
- Practical steps to prevent cross-contamination in food preparation areas
- Best practice for providing allergen-safe options to customers
- How to monitor and review allergen controls, internally and externally
- The growing impact of allergies in modern food service
Whether you’re serving, preparing or packaging food, this course makes sure your allergen knowledge is compliant, up to date and effective.
Course content
Eight informative modules, taking you from the basics through to auditing your allergen controls, with interactive video content, case studies and self-check questions. Tap a module to see what’s covered.
1 Food Intolerance and Allergens: the BasicsIntroduces the key terms and the important distinctions between them.
What’s covered
- What we mean by a food allergy, a food intolerance and a food aversion
- The fundamental difference between an allergy (an immune response) and an intolerance
- Why that distinction matters in a food setting
- An introduction to the scale and seriousness of allergens in food service
2 Food Intolerances – Causes and SymptomsLooks at non-allergic reactions to food and how they present.
What’s covered
- What food intolerances are and how they differ from allergies
- Common intolerances, including lactose intolerance
- The distinction between intolerance and coeliac disease (an autoimmune condition)
- Typical causes and symptoms
- How intolerances are managed compared with allergies
3 Allergies – Causes and SymptomsExplains how allergic reactions happen and why they can be so serious.
What’s covered
- How the immune system responds during an allergic reaction
- Symptoms ranging from mild (itching, rash, swelling) to severe
- Anaphylaxis — how to recognise it and why it’s life-threatening
- Common triggers and how quickly reactions can develop
- Awareness of adrenaline auto-injectors and emergency response
4 Allergen FactsA detailed look at the 14 allergens and where they hide.
What’s covered
- The 14 allergens recognised by UK law and their common food sources
- Hidden and unexpected sources of allergens
- Food additives and sulphites
- Why even tiny amounts can trigger a serious reaction
- Building familiarity with the allergens you’re most likely to encounter
5 Food Allergens and the LawCovers your legal obligations around allergen information.
What’s covered
- The Food Information Regulations and the duty to declare the 14 allergens
- Natasha’s Law and the labelling of prepacked for direct sale (PPDS) foods
- Labelling rules for prepacked, PPDS and loose/non-prepacked foods
- Consumers’ rights to accurate allergen information
- The consequences of getting allergen information wrong
6 Food Allergens – Practical StepsThe hands-on module on keeping allergens under control in the workplace.
What’s covered
- Preventing cross-contamination (cross-contact) in preparation areas
- Separation, dedicated equipment, colour-coding and safe storage
- Cleaning effectively to remove allergen residues
- Handling special requests and substitutions safely
- Using accurate ingredient, recipe and supplier information
7 Allergen Information for ConsumersFocuses on communicating allergen information clearly and correctly.
What’s covered
- Providing clear, accurate allergen information on menus and signage
- Training staff to answer allergen questions confidently
- Verbal communication and point-of-order procedures
- Using “may contain” appropriately rather than as a catch-all
- Making sure customers can make safe, informed choices
8 Internal and External Monitoring and ReviewBrings it together with the systems that keep allergen controls reliable.
What’s covered
- Setting up allergen control procedures and policies
- Internal monitoring, checks and self-audits
- External audits and EHO inspections
- Reviewing and updating controls when recipes or suppliers change
- Record keeping as evidence of due diligence
Assessment & certificate
To complete the course, you’ll take a multiple-choice final exam. A score of 80% or higher is required to pass, and if you’re not successful first time you can retake the exam for free, as many times as you need.
As soon as you pass, you can download your digital certificate instantly, and a professionally printed copy is posted the next working day. Your certificate is CPD certified, RoSPA Qualifications Assured and Institute of Hospitality accredited, and can be used as proof of allergen awareness training for employers, EHOs or industry compliance.
There is no expiry date on the certificate. However, we recommend refreshing allergen training every three years, or sooner if your menu, recipes, suppliers or the law change.
Who is this course for?
This course is for anyone who serves, prepares, packages or handles food, and it’s especially valuable for customer-facing staff who field allergen questions every day. It suits a wide range of roles and sectors:
- Chefs, cooks and food preparation staff
- Waiters, baristas and front-of-house staff who communicate allergen information to customers
- Food delivery, packaging and distribution workers
- Managers and supervisors in food service environments
- Staff across catering, retail, education, healthcare and hospitality
It’s also ideal for business owners who need to train their staff in allergen awareness and meet their food safety responsibilities.
Why take this course?
Allergic reactions can be life-threatening, and food businesses have a legal and moral duty to protect their customers. As food allergies become more prevalent, allergen awareness has moved from “nice to have” to essential for every food business.
By completing this course, your staff will be able to:
- Understand and identify allergens in food products
- Recognise the symptoms of allergic reactions and intolerances
- Avoid cross-contact through safe preparation and handling
- Accurately label and communicate allergen information to customers
- Meet legal obligations and prepare for local authority inspections
- Create a safer, more inclusive experience for every customer
- Protect the business from allergen incidents, legal action and reputational damage
Strong allergen awareness protects both your customers and your brand.
For employers, managers & business owners
Training your team
Buy, assign and manage food hygiene training across your whole team — all from one place.
Assign licences your way
Buy the number of licences you need now and assign them whenever it suits you — there’s no rush to use them all at once. Add team members by email and they’ll receive their own login to start the course.
Track progress in real time
A simple manager dashboard shows who has started, who’s in progress and who has passed — so you can keep your team’s training on track ahead of an audit or inspection.
Certificates and audit records
Download every team member’s certificate from a single account, and export a training record to evidence compliance for audits and EHO inspections. Printed certificates are posted as your team passes.
Flexible payment
Pay by card for instant access, or get in touch about invoicing and purchase orders for larger team orders.
Bulk pricing & team discounts
Bigger orders = bigger discounts
The more licences you buy, the more you save — and discounts apply across your whole order, including mixed courses. Secure a lower rate today and use your licences whenever it suits your business.
10+licences10% off
50+licences20% off
100+licences30% off
500+licences40% off
Discounts are applied automatically at checkout based on your total quantity.
Why train with us
Genuinely accreditedCPD certified, RoSPA Qualifications Assured and Institute of Hospitality accredited.
Developed by food safety expertsAligned with the Food Information Regulations and Natasha’s Law.
Recognised by EHOsAccepted by local authorities across the UK.
Practical and engagingInteractive video, case studies and self-check questions.
Learn anywhereFully online and self-paced, on any device.
Risk-freeFree retakes if you don’t pass first time.
Real certificatesInstant digital PDF plus a printed copy by post.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need allergen training by law?
Allergen training isn’t always mandatory in itself, but businesses must make sure staff handle and communicate allergen information correctly — a legal duty under UK food law. This course helps you meet that requirement.
What’s the difference between this and a food hygiene course?
A food hygiene course covers safe food handling in general and touches on allergens as one hazard. This course goes much deeper on allergens specifically — the law, the 14 allergens, communication and cross-contact control. Many businesses train staff in both.
Is this course recognised by local authorities?
Yes. It’s approved by CPD, RoSPA and the Institute of Hospitality and is widely accepted across the UK.
Can I complete the course online?
Yes. It’s delivered fully online and can be completed on your phone, tablet or computer. The final assessment must be taken on a laptop or PC.
How long does the course take?
Around 100 minutes, but it’s self-paced — complete it in one sitting or over several.
Is there an exam?
Yes — a multiple-choice exam. You need 80% to pass, and retakes are free if you need them.
Do I get a certificate?
Yes. A digital certificate is issued instantly when you pass, and a printed copy is posted the next working day.
Can this training be used for CPD?
Yes. The course is CPD certified and counts towards your continuing professional development.
Who is responsible for allergen safety in a food business?
Everyone has a role to play, from food handlers and front-of-house staff to supervisors and managers — which is why whole-team training matters.
How often should allergen training be refreshed?
Every three years is recommended, or sooner if your menu, recipes, suppliers or the law change.
Can I buy this course for my whole team?
Yes. Buy multiple licences in one order and save with automatic bulk discounts — you can also mix and match allergen, food hygiene and HACCP courses.
How do I assign courses to my staff?
Buy the licences you need and assign them to team members by email whenever it suits you. Each person gets their own login.
Can I track my team’s progress?
Yes. A manager dashboard lets you see who has started, who’s in progress and who has passed, and download everyone’s certificates from one account.
Can I pay by invoice or purchase order?
Get in touch and we’ll arrange invoicing or purchase-order payment for larger team orders.
Do licences expire?
No need to rush — buy now and assign your licences whenever you’re ready.
Ready to get certified?
Start the Level 2 Food Allergen Awareness Course today
Instant access, learn at your own pace, and download your CPD certified, RoSPA-accredited certificate the moment you pass — with a printed copy on its way the next working day.