About this session
Food allergies can affect everyday workplace situations that many teams barely think about: shared kitchens, catered meetings, birthday food, buffets, team lunches, potlucks, vending, travel, and client events.
For someone with a food allergy, however, an unclear ingredient list or accidental allergen cross-contact can have serious consequences.
This session gives employees and workplace teams practical knowledge for creating a safer and more inclusive food environment without placing the full responsibility on the person with the allergy.
Participants learn the difference between food allergy and other food-related conditions, explore allergen labeling and cross-contact, and work through common workplace situations where preventable risk can arise.
The session also introduces allergic-reaction awareness and workplace emergency preparedness. It does not replace formal first-aid, medical, or anaphylaxis training; organizations should continue to follow their own emergency procedures and relevant local requirements.
Food labeling rules also differ by country, so facilitators adapt examples to the market in which the session is delivered.
What your people take away
- Understand what a food allergy is and why reactions can vary in severity
- Recognize common sources of allergen exposure and cross-contact in workplace food environments
- Read allergen information and ingredient labels more carefully while recognizing that labeling rules differ internationally
- Improve shared kitchens, meetings, catering, celebrations, and other food-related workplace activities
- Communicate about food allergies respectfully without requiring unnecessary personal disclosure
- Understand the importance of recognizing a potentially serious allergic reaction and following the organization's emergency response process promptly
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- What each length covers, 30 minutes to full day
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What each length covers
30 minutes
30 Minutes — Key Points: Understand & Reduce Everyday Allergy RiskA focused 30-minute session on three key points from Understand & Reduce Everyday Allergy Risk: understand what a food allergy is, know that allergen lists differ by country and understand allergen cross-contact.
- Understand what a food allergy is
- Know that allergen lists differ by country
- Understand allergen cross-contact
Covers 3 of 4 points in Understand & Reduce Everyday Allergy Risk.
60 minutes
Build an Allergy-Aware WorkplaceA practical introduction to food allergies, allergen cross-contact, labels, shared kitchens, catered events, communication, and what employees should know about workplace emergency procedures.
- Module 1: Understand & Reduce Everyday Allergy Risk
- Live Q&A
Covers 1 of 4 parts: Understand & Reduce Everyday Allergy Risk.
90 minutes
Create Safer Shared Food EnvironmentsThe extended session adds deeper work around cross-contact, food storage, cleaning, catering, event planning, ingredient information, communication, and emergency preparedness.
- Module 1: Understand & Reduce Everyday Allergy Risk
- Module 2: Make Shared Kitchens & Catering More Allergy-Aware
- Live Q&A
Covers 2 of 4 parts: Understand & Reduce Everyday Allergy Risk and Make Shared Kitchens & Catering More Allergy-Aware.
3 hours
Covers 3 of 4 parts: Understand & Reduce Everyday Allergy Risk, Make Shared Kitchens & Catering More Allergy-Aware and Plan Inclusive Meetings, Events & Food Culture.
Full day
Build a Workplace Food Allergy Action FrameworkThe full-day format covers all four modules with practical exercises around shared kitchens, catered meetings, buffets, celebrations, potlucks, employee communication, workplace processes, and emergency readiness.
- Module 1: Understand & Reduce Everyday Allergy Risk
- Module 2: Make Shared Kitchens & Catering More Allergy-Aware
- Module 3: Plan Inclusive Meetings, Events & Food Culture
- Module 4: Recognize Risk & Strengthen Workplace Preparedness
- Workplace Food Allergy Risk Check
- Allergy-Aware Catering Checklist
- Shared Kitchen & Event Planning Guide
- Workplace Allergy Preparedness Action Sheet
- Live Q&A
Covers all 4 parts.
Also available as a 4-week program, for change that lasts. Ask us about it.
What’s covered
Understand & Reduce Everyday Allergy Risk
Every length- Understand what a food allergy isA food allergy involves an immune-system response to a food, and reactions can differ between people and even between episodes for the same person.
- Know that allergen lists differ by countryDifferent jurisdictions define and regulate priority or major allergens differently, so a global workplace should not assume one country's list applies everywhere.
- Understand allergen cross-contactAllergen cross-contact can occur when an allergen is unintentionally transferred to another food through surfaces, utensils, equipment, storage, preparation, or serving.
- Find the high-risk moments at workShared kitchens, catered meetings, buffets, birthday food, potlucks, vending areas, and communal snacks each create different challenges.
Make Shared Kitchens & Catering More Allergy-Aware
90 minutes and longer- Improve storage & shared kitchen practicesOpen packages, shared utensils, poorly cleaned surfaces, unlabeled containers, and food stored together can increase uncertainty for employees managing allergies.
- Plan catering before the order is placedDietary requirements are much easier to manage before menus have been selected and suppliers confirmed.
- Keep ingredient information availableEmployees need accurate information to make their own decisions about what they can safely eat.
- Reduce cross-contact during serviceSeparate preparation, dedicated equipment where appropriate, clean surfaces, and clearly managed serving arrangements can reduce opportunities for allergen cross-contact.
Plan Inclusive Meetings, Events & Food Culture
3 hours and longer- Ask what people need — without interrogating themEmployees should be able to communicate a food allergy or dietary requirement without having to justify their medical history publicly.
- Don't make the person with the allergy manage the eventIt is unreasonable for an employee to arrive at every workplace event and personally investigate the caterer, kitchen, serving utensils, and every dish.
- Think beyond the "special plate"Separating one employee with a visibly different meal may technically provide food while still making the event feel excluding.
- Handle informal food more thoughtfullyHomemade cakes, potlucks, shared snacks, and gifts can be more difficult to assess because ingredient and preparation information may be incomplete.
Recognize Risk & Strengthen Workplace Preparedness
Full day only- Know that serious reactions need prompt actionAnaphylaxis is a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction, and early recognition and treatment matter.
- Understand the role of epinephrineEpinephrine — also called adrenaline in many countries — is the first-line treatment for anaphylaxis.
- Know your workplace response processEmployees should know how to raise an emergency, contact designated responders or emergency medical services, and locate relevant workplace procedures.
- Turn awareness into an organizational systemFood allergy safety depends on more than individual knowledge.
How booking works
- Book online. Create a free Workbliss profile, then pay with session credits, by card or by invoice.
- Pick a date. Choose a date at least 14 days ahead, or book now and set the date later.
- Choose your expert. Within 3 working days, we send you profiles of the experts available for your date.
- We deliver it. Your expert is briefed on your people and goals, then runs the session live online or at your site.
Questions about Food Allergy Awareness in the Workplace
How long is Food Allergy Awareness in the Workplace?
Food Allergy Awareness in the Workplace runs as 30 minutes, 60 minutes, 90 minutes, 3 hours or full day. You choose the length when you book. A 30-minute session covers three key points from Understand & Reduce Everyday Allergy Risk: understand what a food allergy is, know that allergen lists differ by country and understand allergen cross-contact. A 60-minute session covers Understand & Reduce Everyday Allergy Risk in full, with a live Q&A. A 90-minute session adds Make Shared Kitchens & Catering More Allergy-Aware. A 3-hour session adds Plan Inclusive Meetings, Events & Food Culture. A full-day session adds Recognize Risk & Strengthen Workplace Preparedness. It is also available as a 4-week program.
Can Food Allergy Awareness in the Workplace be delivered online or in person?
Yes, both. It runs live online, so every office can join at the same time, or in person at your site, in any country.
How do we book Food Allergy Awareness in the Workplace?
Create a free Workbliss profile with your work email, then open Food Allergy Awareness in the Workplace to see the price for each length and book it. You can pay with session credits, by card or by invoice, and choose a date at least 14 days ahead, or set it later.
Who leads the session?
A vetted Workbliss expert, briefed on your people, culture and goals before the session. After you book, we send you profiles of the experts available for your date within 3 working days, so you can choose who leads it.
Can it be tailored to our company?
Yes. Every session is shaped around your goals, your people and the benefits you already offer, and delivered by experts in your people’s languages.