Hygiene and safety training

People operating a food business have a responsibility to ensure that food handlers engaged in the business have a suitable level of training and instruction in food hygiene. A food handler is any person who handles or prepares food whether open (unwrapped) or packaged. Food includes drink and ice.

There are a wide range of courses available to improve food safety. Training courses typically covers the following:

food policy
food poisoning bacteria and their potential to cause illness
temperature control
personal hygiene
common food hazards
food storage
waste disposal
foreign body contamination
awareness of pests
cleaning and disinfection
legal obligations
premises and equipment.

Food hygiene legislation is changing from the 1st January 2006 and in line with this new food hygiene qualifications are being launched. The new qualifications are set at four levels.

Level 1 aimed at those who handle low risk or wrapped food only.
Level 2 aimed at those who handle open high risk foods (equal to the current 'foundation' qualification).
Level 3 aimed at food handlers who also have a supervisory role (equal to the current 'intermediate' qualification).
Level 4 aimed at food handlers who have a management role (equal to the current 'advanced' qualification).

In addition the following brands of training will be launched.

Nutrition Awareness - This course will provide a basic understanding of nutrition to assist in supplying food that meets the requirements of a balanced diet.

Food Safety Management Systems - This course will assist in implementing a food safety management system based on the principles of Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP).

Training providers

The Food and Environmental Safety service is a registered training centre and periodically runs food hygiene training courses as well as providing advice on meeting the legal requirements on food hygiene training.

A number of organisations in the local area also run training courses details of which can be downloaded from the attached list.

Enquiries and complaints

To make an an enquiry about a course use this form.

Further information about the Food and Environmental Safety Service and other contact details can be found on our Standards of Service page.