Which foods are commonly considered major allergens?

• A. Milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, and soy.
• B. Bread, butter, rice, sugar.
• C. Meat, cheese, yogurt, milk.
• D. Corn, soy sauce, citrus, bananas.

Answer: (A)

Common major allergens are the eight foods responsible for the majority of allergic reactions, and they are the ones you should know for safe food handling. The eight foods are milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, and soy. These are the items that must be clearly labeled in many regulations so people with allergies can avoid them, and as a food handler you should be vigilant about cross-contact and always check ingredient lists for any of these ingredients. The other options mix foods that aren’t part of the standard eight or omit several of them, so they don’t represent the typical set of major allergens.