Skip to content
State Cert Guide

Independent guide, not a government agency. We earn commissions on some links.

Do I need allergen awareness training in Illinois?

Certified food protection managers at Illinois restaurants must take allergen awareness training within 30 days after they start the job and every 3 years after that, unless an exception applies. Food handlers who are not certified managers do not have to take it. Under P.A. 104-90, effective 1-1-26, the topics the Act lists for the training include gluten.

By State Cert GuideChecked against the sources listed below.Report a mistake

The rule, fact by fact

Who needs it
Certified food protection managers working in a restaurantThe state calls it additional training, taken with an approved program.
Verified. dph.illinois.gov (opens state website) · checked Nov 13, 2026
Valid for
Within 30 days after employment, then every 3 yearsThe clock starts with employment, and the training repeats after that.
Same source and date as above
Who is exempt
Food handlers are not required to have allergen awareness trainingThe state defines food handlers here as employees who are not CFPMs.
Same source and date as above
Gluten topic
Training must cover understanding gluten, including gluten intolerance and celiac diseaseGluten is item 14 on the Act's list of topics the training must cover.
Verified. www.ilga.gov (opens state website) · checked Nov 13, 2026
Valid for
P.A. 104-90, eff. 1-1-26The statute's source note names this Act and its effective date.
Same source and date as above

How to get it done

  1. Step 1. Check that the rule covers your job and your workplace. The state's FAQ applies it to certified food protection managers (CFPMs) in restaurants that the local health department assigns to Category I (High Risk). A restaurant makes at least 51% of its sales, excluding liquor, from ready-to-eat food for immediate consumption. The FAQ's exclusions include, among others, grocery stores, convenience stores, schools and restaurants in Category II or III. The Act also exempts a multi-state business or franchisee with a food handler training program that follows Section 3.06(d). Employees who are not CFPMs are food handlers, and the training is not required for them.

  2. Step 2. Choose a program the Act accepts. A program that ANSI, or another reputable agency under ASTM International E2659-09, has accredited meets the requirements. The state's FAQ links to a directory of ANSI accredited programs. That training is transferable between employers, but not individuals. Ask the provider whether the course covers the gluten topic in Section 3.07(c). The FAQ names two other routes: an internal program that follows Section 3.07(c) and was approved in another state before January 1, 2018, and the program of a multi-state business with a plan that follows Section 3.07(c). Neither is transferable between employers.

  3. Step 3. Finish the course within 30 days after you start the job, and note the date. The state's food allergies page says to recertify every three years.

  4. Step 4. Keep the certificate you get when you finish the course at the restaurant. The state says it must be made available to the health inspector upon request. The Act adds that proof of training may be provided electronically.

Before you pay

Confirm that your role and workplace are covered before you pay. Food handlers who are not CFPMs do not need this training.

Check that ANSI, or another reputable agency under ASTM International E2659-09, has accredited the program, and ask whether it covers the gluten topic.

Ask your employer before you sign up. A company may have its own approved program, and that training is not transferable between employers.

We haven't confirmed what accredited programs charge, so ask the provider.

Questions

Can I take the allergen training online?

Yes. The Act says training may be conducted by any means available, including online, computer, classroom, live trainers and remote trainers, among others. It also says nothing in that subsection requires a proctor.

Does my restaurant have to post an allergen notice?

Yes. The state says restaurants in Illinois are required to display allergen awareness notices. They should tell consumers how to report information about food allergies to employees. A restaurant meets the rule if it posts the sign IDPH created in an area where consumers can easily see it.

How big does the allergen sign have to be?

There is no minimum or maximum size, but the sign must be visible to all consumers. It can be translated into another language, but the English signage must also be present.

Who enforces the manager training rule?

The state's food allergies page says local health departments enforce the rules that require restaurants to train kitchen managers in allergen awareness and to post signs.

Which foods count as major allergens in Illinois?

The Illinois Department of Public Health lists nine major food allergens: milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans, and sesame.

What to do next

Start with the state's allergen training FAQ, which links to the ANSI list of accredited programs. Know first whether your restaurant is assigned as Category I (High Risk) and whether you are a certified food protection manager.

dph.illinois.gov

Sources we read