Food safety courses

Food handlers must be trained to a level that enables them to carry out their job knowledgeably, safely and hygienically.

To comply with these training requirements, employees and managers do not necessarily need to attend a formal training course. The necessary skills may be obtained in other ways such as through on-the-job training, self-study or relevant prior experience.

In addition to the principles of food hygiene, training must also cover cleaning, pest control and any hazard analysis relevant to the work being done.

Employees must also understand the business’s food safety management systems.

Training courses

Recognised training courses are administered by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) who offer e-learning courses as well as technical training programmes.

The Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) also offer online courses as well as in-person learning at more than 700 training centres across the UK.

Allergens training

The Food Standards Agency offer free online training to help you understand allergens and managing their use in food.