The “Big Eight” in Food Allergies

If you work in the foodservice industry, you’ll often come into contact with guests who have food allergies. While there are a number of foods that may cause someone to have an allergic reaction, the “Big Eight” are the most common culprits. They are:

Milk

Eggs

Soy

Peanuts

Fish

Wheat

Shellfish

Tree nuts

Make sure you always know the ingredients in every dish you prepare or serve. This will ensure you are able to accurately answer any food allergy questions a guest may have and offer alternate suggestions when appropriate. Food allergy reactions can be a life and death situation, so make sure you know the “Big Eight” and feel confident in your food allergy training.