ServSafe Allergens — All Questions
4 questions
As of the FASTER Act, which food was added to the U.S. list of major allergens, making it the ninth?
- a.Mustard
- b.Celery
- c.Sesame✓
- d.Gluten
The FASTER Act of 2021 added sesame as the ninth major food allergen effective January 1, 2023, expanding the original 'Big 8' (milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans) to the 'Big 9.' Mustard and celery are regulated allergens in some other countries (such as the EU) but are not U.S. major allergens. Gluten is a protein in wheat and other grains, not itself one of the nine named allergens.
A guest asks whether the shrimp dish is safe for their shellfish allergy. Which group does shrimp belong to among the Big 9 allergens?
- a.Fish
- b.Crustacean shellfish✓
- c.Tree nuts
- d.Soybeans
Shrimp is a crustacean shellfish, which is a distinct major allergen from finned fish. The Big 9 lists 'fish' and 'crustacean shellfish' separately because a person allergic to one is not necessarily allergic to the other. Crustacean shellfish includes shrimp, crab, and lobster; mollusks such as clams and oysters are not federally required major allergens, though many operations disclose them as a precaution.
Which pair are BOTH tree nuts, a Big 9 allergen category that is separate from peanuts?
- a.Almonds and walnuts✓
- b.Peanuts and cashews
- c.Sunflower seeds and pine nuts
- d.Soybeans and chickpeas
Almonds and walnuts are both tree nuts. Peanuts are legumes, not tree nuts, and are listed as their own major allergen; a peanut allergy and a tree nut allergy are distinct. Sunflower seeds are seeds, not tree nuts. Soybeans and chickpeas are legumes. Because tree nuts and peanuts are separate categories, staff should never assume a 'nut-free' request covers only one of them.
A severe, life-threatening allergic reaction that can involve swelling of the airway and a drop in blood pressure is called what?
- a.Foodborne infection
- b.Intolerance
- c.Cross-contact
- d.Anaphylaxis✓
Anaphylaxis is a rapid, severe, potentially fatal allergic reaction that can cause airway swelling, difficulty breathing, and a dangerous drop in blood pressure. It is treated with epinephrine and immediate emergency care (call 911). It differs from a food intolerance, which is unpleasant but not life-threatening and is not an immune response. A foodborne infection is caused by a pathogen, and cross-contact is the transfer of an allergen, not the reaction itself.