Cross-Contamination & AllergensQuestion 149 of 319
A bakery sells loaves that contain no nuts in the recipe, but the dough is mixed in the same bowl used for walnut bread. The most appropriate label statement is:
a.A voluntary advisory such as “May contain tree nuts” in addition to the required “Contains” statement for any actual ingredient allergens
b.No statement at all because walnuts are not in the recipe
c.“Certified nut-free”, since the recipe lists no nuts
d.“Guaranteed allergen-free” on the front of the package
Explanation
When shared equipment can introduce traces of an allergen, FDA permits a voluntary precautionary statement such as “May contain tree nuts”. The required “Contains” statement only lists allergens that are actual ingredients. Claims like “certified nut-free” or “allergen-free” are inaccurate and can mislead vulnerable consumers.
Law Reference: FDA Food Code 3-602.11; FALCPAPractice all 319 questions free — no signup required.
Related questions on this topic
- Sanitizer alone will not remove allergen residue from a cutting board. What is the most effective cleaning step that physically REMOVES allergen proteins before sanitizing?
- A regular customer with celiac disease orders the gluten-free pasta. The cook drops the gluten-free pasta into the same boiling water that just cooked regular wheat spaghetti. Why is this a critical error?
- A guest who told the server about a shellfish allergy begins to break out in hives, has facial swelling, and is wheezing minutes after the meal. What should the food handler or manager do FIRST?
- A prep cook is breaking down a case that contains raw chicken, raw beef, raw whole fish, and live oysters at the same table. Cross-contamination between RAW foods is best prevented by:
- A single wet wiping cloth is being moved from the raw-chicken cutting board to the salad station to the can-opener handle. The MAIN problem with this practice is:
- Top-down cooler storage order is based on a specific principle. Which statement correctly explains WHY ready-to-eat foods go on top and whole poultry goes on the bottom?
Last reviewed: · editorial process
PrepPass Editorial Team · Verified against California Food Handler Card Exam · How we review