Who needs a food hygiene certificate? In the UK, there is no legal requirement to hold a food hygiene certificate. However, if your job involves preparing, cooking, serving or handling food, you should receive food hygiene training that’s appropriate for the work you do. Completing a recognised food hygiene course is one of the simplest ways to demonstrate that you’ve received appropriate food hygiene training.
Quick Answer
- Food handlers do not legally need a food hygiene certificate.
- However, they do need to complete some form of food hygiene training that’s appropriate for the work they do.
- Completing a recognised food hygiene course is the easiest way to demonstrate that they have the required training.
Which Jobs Usually Need Food Hygiene Training?
If your job involves preparing, cooking, serving or handling food, you’ll usually need appropriate food hygiene training.
| Job | Why food hygiene training is needed |
|---|---|
| Chefs and cooks | Chefs and cooks prepare and cook food for customers, so they need to understand safe food handling and hygiene practices. |
| Kitchen assistants | Kitchen assistants prepare ingredients, handle food and help keep kitchens clean and hygienic. |
| Bakers | Bakers prepare food products that will be sold to customers. |
| Café and coffee shop staff | Café and coffee shop staff prepare food and drinks and often handle ready-to-eat food. |
| Waiting staff | Waiting staff may handle or serve unpackaged food and should understand good food hygiene practices. |
| Mobile caterers and food van operators | Mobile caterers prepare and serve food directly to the public. |
| School, nursery and care home kitchen staff | These kitchen workers prepare meals for people who may be more vulnerable to foodborne illness. |
| Food manufacturing workers | Food manufacturing employees produce food that is intended for consumers. |
| Home-based food businesses | Home-based food businesses prepare food for sale and should understand food safety requirements. |
These are just some of the most common examples. If your work involves handling food, food hygiene training is likely to be appropriate.
Do I Need Food Hygiene Training? A Quick Checklist
You are likely to need food hygiene training if you answer YES to any of these questions:
- Do you prepare or cook food?
- Do you handle ready-to-eat food?
- Do you store food?
- Do you serve unpackaged food?
- Do you run a food business?
- Do you sell food you’ve made at home?
- Do you supervise people who handle food?
If you answered YES to any of these questions, food hygiene training is likely to be appropriate for your role.
Which Food Hygiene Certificate is right for me?
There are different levels of food hygiene training depending on your role and responsibilities.
- Level 1 Food Hygiene – Suitable for people who handle low-risk packaged food or have limited contact with food, for example, retail staff handling packaged food
- Level 2 Food Hygiene – The most common level for chefs, kitchen staff, café workers, hospitality staff and anyone who prepares or handles food.
- Level 3 Food Hygiene – Designed for supervisors, managers and those responsible for overseeing food safety procedures.
If you’re unsure which course is right for you, our guide to food hygiene training and certification explains the different food hygiene training levels and who they’re designed for.
What Are the Benefits of Having a Food Hygiene Certificate?
Although a food hygiene certificate isn’t a legal requirement in itself, completing recognised food hygiene training offers several important benefits for both employees and employers.
- Demonstrates that you’ve completed recognised food hygiene training.
- Provides employers with evidence that staff have received appropriate food safety training.
- Helps improve food safety standards and reduce the risk of food contamination.
- Can improve your employment prospects in the food and hospitality industry.
- Provides evidence of training that may be useful during a food hygiene inspection by an Environmental Health Officer (EHO).
- Gives customers and employers greater confidence that food is being handled safely.
While a food hygiene certificate alone doesn’t guarantee compliance, it provides clear evidence that food handlers have received appropriate training and can help demonstrate a commitment to good food safety practices.
Need a Food Hygiene Certificate?
If your work involves handling food, our expert food hygiene training course provides an easy way to complete your training and receive your certificate.
