Frequently Asked Questions

General food law:

  • The General Food Law Regulation (EC) 178/2002
  • The Food Safety Act 1990
  • The Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013

Food business operators are required by law, to ensure that food handlers receive appropriate supervision and instruction/training in food hygiene in line with their work activity and should enable them to handle food safely. If a business fails to comply with the food safety regulations, penalties can be: £5,000 each offence (Magistrate Court), unlimited fines and two years imprison (Crown court)

How Often Should I Renew my Food Safety Certificate?

It’s recommended by Environmental Health Officers that refresher training is provided regularly and according to the business’ risk assessment requirements. It should take place at least every three years. The refreshment training also reinforces the food safety knowledge of your employees, keeps them updated of changes in legislation and updates their skills when their job role changes.

What is a Food Handler?

  • Chefs who prepare and cook foods
  • Waiters who carry a person’s order to their table
  • Lunchtime assistants who hand the food over a counter
  • Those who wash the dishes and utensils that come in contact with food
  • Those who work in retail and directly touch food like vegetables, fish, baked goods, and so on
  • Those who transport foods

Job roles that require Level 1 Food Safety training would include:

  • All food handlers before starting work for the first time
  • Front of house employees
  • Checkout staff
  • Bar workers
  • Food delivery drivers
  • Kitchen porters

Time: Within 4 weeks of starting a job

Job roles that require Level 2 Food Safety training would include:

  • Food handlers and chefs who work directly with preparing food in:
  • Cafés
  • Bakery
  • Fast food outlets
  • Food trucks
  • Schools, Universities, and Colleges
  • After school clubs
  • Breweries
  • Cake Stalls
  • Chocolate fountains
  • Ice cream vans
  • Online food business
  • Warehouse
  • Wholesalers
  • Food handlers who prepare or serve high risk “open” food. e.g. cook, baker, shop assistant handling cooked meats or serving unwrapped cream cakes, the person working in a café or takeaway

Time: Within 3 months

Job roles that require Level 3 Food Safety training would include:

  • Supervisors
  • Kitchen Managers
  • Food managers

Time: Within 3 months

Level 3 courses are required by those who are responsible for managing people, developing food safety systems and communicating this information to staff in a food business that directly prepares and serves food to consumers.

Food Safety Management system

We can also help you establish an effective Food Safety Management System, please contact us to find more about how we can help you.