Friday, January 14, 2011

Restaurants Have 3 Weeks to Comply With New Food Allergy Requirements

105 CMR 590.003(B)(17) includes new requirements for restaurants under the Food Allergy Awareness Act, MGL c.140, s.6B. In addition to all of the obligations of the "person in charge" under the 105 CMR 590.003(B)(1)-(16), the new regulation has added:

"The person in charge shall demonstrate this knowledge by compliance with the federal 1999 Food Code and, by being a certified food protection manager who has shown proficiency of required information through passing a test that is part of an accredited program recognized by the Department. The areas of knowledge include:
...
"(17) No later than February 1, 2011:
(a)  Describing FOODS identified as MAJOR FOOD ALLERGENS and describing the symptoms that MAJOR FOOD ALLERGENS could cause in a sensitive individual who has an allergic reaction; and
(b) Ensuring that employees are properly trained in food allergy awareness as it relates to their assigned duties."