Food Allergen Management Guide for School Canteens (2018)

When preparing food, it is essential to consider food allergy. 

School canteens can make food selection from the canteen a safer, positive experience for students with food allergy. There are several things that can be put in place to make sure students with food allergy are able to purchase appropriate food from the school canteen. These strategies will also support staff with food allergy.

This Guide includes frequently asked questions and explains the 4 key strategies to food allergy management in school canteens:
1. Know what’s in your food
2. Be 100% truthful
3. Prepare food safely
4. Understand the consequences.

This Guide was developed by National Allergy Strategy, Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia and the Western Australian School Canteen Association Inc, supported by the Western Australian Departments of Health and Education.

Download the Food Allergen Management Guide for School Canteens.

Everyone working in food service, from the manager through to the food preparation and service staff, needs to be aware of the risks food allergies pose. It’s also important to be clear on how to identify and manage food allergens and how to respond to enquiries from customers with food allergies.

All about Allergens training is a free online course for anyone working in food service. The comprehensive program details need to know information relevant to those in the food service industry and is presented using videos and interactive activities.

The course takes about 60-90 minutes to complete and a certificate can be printed on completion.  Access the course at: www.foodallergytraining.com.au

Canteen poster

Managing food allergy and food safety and hygiene in school canteens is essential.

FOCiS together with National Allergy Strategy and Allergy and Anaphylaxis Australia have developed a quick reference poster for display in school canteens.

Each of the four  steps in the Food allergy in school canteens poster links to the All About Allergens training.

The Food safety in school canteens poster contains five simple steps to ensure food prepared and sold in the school canteen in done so safely. This poster has been endorse by Environmental Health Australia.

Both posters can be downloaded as high resolution copies from the FOCiS website.

Western Australian School Canteen Association (Inc.)
PO Box 3484, East Perth WA 6892 | Telephone: 08 9264 4999 | Email: wasca@education.wa.edu.au