Food safety training

The law requires that all food handlers are supervised, instructed or trained in food safety which is appropriate for the work they do. 

Requirements 

There is no legal requirement to attend a formal training course or to get a qualification, but most people handling foods in a catering environment have knowledge equivalent to the Level 2 award in food safety.  

Managers and supervisors would benefit from a higher level of training such as Level 3 and 4 courses. This will help them to deal with important food safety issues such as hazard analysis and due diligence. 

Formal courses 

In England there are three accredited awarding bodies for food safety qualifications: 

• Chartered Institute of Environmental Health 
• Highfield Qualifications 
• Royal Society for Public Health 

Other courses or food safety qualifications are available but may not be regulated in the same way.

Records 

It is important that you add any informal training to your records and keep copies of formal training certificates.   

The Safer Food Better Business pack is available free of charge from the Food Standards Agency and can be used as a training manual. It also contains training record sheets that you can use.