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Do I need allergen awareness training in Michigan?

Michigan's Food Law had an allergen training rule for certified food safety managers, but it applied only until December 31, 2020. Food service businesses, except licensed temporary ones, and extended retail food establishments still must employ at least 1 certified food safety manager. Local governments may add programs of their own.

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The rule, fact by fact

Valid for
Subsection (2) allergen training applied until December 31, 2020The statute says that rule is not applicable after that date.
Verified. www.legislature.mi.gov (opens state website) · checked Nov 13, 2026
Who needs it
Minimum 1 manager certified by an American National Standards Institute-accredited programLicensed temporary food service establishments are left out.
Same source and date as above
Rule
Michigan Food Law, Act 92 of 2000, section 289.2129Its heading names the managerial employee.
Same source and date as above
Local programs
Local food handler or manager programs are allowed if they do not conflictThe statute also lets a local legislative body add an employee health certification program.
Same source and date as above

How to get it done

  1. Step 1. Check whether the rule you heard about still applies. Michigan's Food Law once required a certified food safety manager who supervises a food service business to complete a food safety training program with an allergen awareness component. That began on January 14, 2017 and repeated every 5 years. The statute says the rule is not applicable after December 31, 2020.

  2. Step 2. Pick a manager credential the law recognizes. A covered business employs a manager who is currently certified under a program that the American National Standards Institute accredits, using Conference for Food Protection standards. This state and all local units of government recognize a manager certified that way with full faith and credit.

  3. Step 3. Ask about local rules before you train. The Food Law does not prohibit a local legislative body from running a food handler program, an employee health program or a manager program, if it does not conflict with the law. Ask your local health department which of these, if any, applies to you.

  4. Step 4. Know what the old rule asked you to keep. It had a business keep records on its site showing that its certified food safety managers complied. The rule applies only until December 31, 2020, so those records belong to the years it was in force.

Before you pay

Michigan's Food Law no longer carries the allergen training rule for certified food safety managers, which applied until December 31, 2020. Ask any provider that sells it as a state requirement which current rule it relies on.

The manager credential is a separate duty. The program must be one that the American National Standards Institute accredits, and it must use the Conference for Food Protection standards.

A local government may run a program of its own. Ask your local health department before you pay.

We haven't checked Michigan's food code rules or county rules, so ask the health department whether either adds an allergen rule.

Questions

Could a large chain use any national program under the old rule?

Yes. While the rule applied, a certified food safety manager at a business with more than 20 locations in Michigan could meet it with any nationally recognized food safety training program that included an allergen awareness component.

Could the old allergen training be taken online?

Yes, while the rule applied. The statute says the allergen part could be an online program or a video.

Who enforced the old allergen rule?

The state agency the statute calls the department. It enforced that rule in the same way as other rules for certified food safety managers.

What to do next

Start with the text of the Michigan Food Law. Know first whether you supervise a food service business and whether your county health department runs a program of its own.

www.legislature.mi.gov

Sources we read