AAA Food Manager Certification Practice Test

How many major food allergens are there?

1. 5

2. 7

3. 9

4. 11

The correct answer is: 9

The correct total of major food allergens is nine. This number aligns with the widely recognized list of allergens that are responsible for the majority of food allergies in the population. These allergens include peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, soy, wheat, and sesame. Food allergy awareness is critical for food safety management, given that these allergens can cause severe reactions in susceptible individuals. Understanding the scope of major food allergens is essential for food handlers and managers to ensure the safety and well-being of customers, particularly in food service environments where cross-contact can occur. The options that represent lower numbers, such as five or seven, do not encompass all the recognized allergens and therefore do not accurately reflect the current established understanding of food allergens. Eleven, while higher than the correct figure, also exceeds the established list, indicating a misunderstanding of the standard categories in allergen identification.