Allergen Awareness
Allergen Awareness (based on FSAI guidance). Know the 14 allergens, where they hide on a café menu, and how to keep every customer with an allergy safe. Eight short video lessons, a quick check after each one, and your certificate the moment you pass.
- 45 to 60 minutesat your own pace
- Phone or computerprogress saved as you go
- Instant certificateof completion, PDF, valid for 2 years
Anyone who makes, serves or sells food and drink
Everyone who handles orders, food or drink, from the counter to the kitchen. It’s ideal for:
- Baristas, front-of-house and counter staff
- Kitchen teams and chefs, supervisors and managers
- The people who pack or deliver orders
- New starters, as part of their induction, and anyone who wants a refresher on the Irish rules
The examples come from cafés and coffee shops, but the skills apply to any food business: restaurants, hotels, delis, bakeries, caterers and food stalls.
Spot the risk, stop it, respond calmly
This course gives you the know-how to spot allergen risks, stop them reaching the customer and respond calmly if something goes wrong. It is based on Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) guidance on Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 and the Irish rules for allergen information on non-prepacked food (S.I. No. 489 of 2014, as amended).
There are no entry requirements. Every lesson has a short video, clear infographics and real-life quick checks, and the course finishes with a 20-question quiz.
Your certificate of completion is issued by Barista School Ireland. It’s valid for 2 years from the day you pass (our recommended refresher; the FSAI sets no expiry). The emergency lesson is general awareness based on HSE advice, not first-aid training or medical advice. Employers must still train and supervise their staff in their own menu, allergen records and procedures.
Eight lessons, from the law to an emergency
Lesson 1Food allergy, intolerance and coeliac diseaseWhy it matters, what an allergy is, and anaphylaxis.
Lesson 2Allergens and the law in IrelandThe EU law, the Irish rules, and what written allergen information must look like.
Lesson 3The 14 allergens and where they hide in a caféAt the milk bar, on the counter and in the kitchen.
Lesson 4Reading labels and keeping allergen records“Contains”, “may contain” and “free-from”, the allergen matrix, and what to do when things change.
Lesson 5Preventing cross-contactFrom the milk bar to the cake display and the toaster.
Lesson 6Handling customer requests, from order to tableSix steps every time, and what to say if you can’t be sure.
Lesson 7Allergic reactions and what to do in an emergencyKnow the signs, act fast and call for help: general awareness, not first-aid training.
Lesson 8Reviewing, checking and improving your allergen proceduresKeeping information, records and training up to date.
For you, or for your whole team
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Training records, sorted
- One link to share with your team: each person gets their own certificate
- A records page showing who has passed, with scores, dates and certificates to download for your training files
- A reminder email before each person’s refresher date (you can turn these off)
- Handy for onboarding: new starters can learn the allergen basics before their first shift
The course covers general allergen knowledge. You still need to train and supervise staff in your own menu, allergen records and procedures. The emergency lesson is general awareness, not first-aid training.
Good to know
Is this an official qualification?
You get a Barista School Ireland certificate of completion from an online course based on FSAI guidance on allergen information. Full details are in our terms of sale. The law requires food businesses to give customers accurate allergen information and to make sure staff are trained for the work they do: this course covers the general knowledge, and your workplace trains you in its own menu and procedures.
How long do I have to finish?
There’s no time limit. Your progress is saved on your device, so you can stop and come back.
What if I don’t pass the quiz?
You’ll see which topics to look at again, and you can retake the quiz as many times as you need.
Will I get my certificate by email?
Yes. You can download it the moment you pass, and we email it to you too. Lost it? Request it again with your email address and we’ll send it back to that address.
Can I buy it with Level 1 HACCP?
Yes. When you order a single place, tick Level 1 HACCP and the saving comes off your order straight away. Team packs aren’t discounted, and it’s one saving per order.
Does the emergency lesson count as first-aid training?
No. It’s general awareness based on HSE advice, not first-aid training or medical advice. In an emergency, follow your workplace’s procedures and call 112 or 999.
Does the course replace my workplace’s allergen procedures?
No. It’s general training that supports, but never replaces, the food safety system (HACCP), allergen procedures, training and supervision where you work: always follow those first. We take care to keep it accurate and up to date, but errors or omissions can occur. See Scope and limits of the training in our terms.