Food hygiene courses

There is no legal requirement for a food business owner or their staff to hold a food hygiene certificate.  

However, the Food Safety Act 1990 mandates that anyone handling food must be properly trained and have sufficient knowledge of food hygiene practices to ensure food safety.  

Although not legally required, obtaining a food hygiene certificate is highly recommended as it demonstrates compliance with these regulations and ensures that employees are adequately trained in safe food handling procedures. 

Yes, you can take a food hygiene course online. 

These courses are convenient, allowing you to learn at your own pace and often provide a certificate upon successful completion, which can demonstrate your knowledge of food hygiene to employers and regulatory bodies. 

A basic food hygiene course typically takes around 1 to 2 hours to complete online.  

More advanced courses, such as Level 2 or Level 3 Food Safety and Hygiene, may take between 4 to 8 hours, depending on the depth of the content and the level of detail required.  

These courses are often self-paced, allowing participants to complete the training in their own time. 

Food safety is governed by the Food Safety Act 1990, which sets out the requirements for food safety, including the safe preparation, storage, and handling of food.  

The Food Hygiene (England) Regulations 2006 (and equivalent regulations for Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland) provide detailed guidelines on food hygiene standards.  

These regulations align with the European Union’s General Food Law Regulation (EC) 178/2002, which continues to influence UK food safety standards post-Brexit. 

The danger zone for food refers to the temperature range between 5°C and 63°C (41°F and 145°F), where harmful bacteria can rapidly multiply, increasing the risk of foodborne illnesses.  

To ensure food safety, perishable foods should be kept out of this temperature range by refrigerating them below 5°C or cooking them above 63°C.