Everyone who works in a commercial cooking environment should receive appropriate training in food safety. Most employers ensure that staff members attend a course leading to a certificate in food safety.
How to find a course that suits you
Both employers and individuals are able to arrange training. Food business owners are legally required to train and supervise their employees who handle food, and this training should also be ongoing as part of continuous professional development.
According to the Food Standards Agency, it is not required that food handlers hold a food safety certificate to prepare food. However, in practice, a certificate can be used to demonstrate suitability and foster greater trust with customers.
There are many options. Your local authority might offer formal courses in food safety. However, other providers, such as local colleges or training institutions, will also offer training. You can find information about courses at your local library if you are unable to locate one. The CIEH will help you find a course that suits your needs. The trainer must be accredited, and the course should include interactive training in a classroom that is followed up by an assessment.
Food safety courses are designed to provide participants with a one-day introduction to the systems, techniques and procedures that are involved in food safety. These courses cover food handling, cooking and storage, as well personal hygiene, to control food safety risks.
It is essential to keep meats separate from other products in cold storage. Some chefs will go as far as keeping products with a Security Seal on them to keep it fresh and safe from sites like Security Seal from Acme Seals.
An awarding body such as the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health will mark the assessments independently and invigilate the assessment at the end of each day. The certificate will be endorsed by Ofqual or a regulatory body equivalent.
The UK does not have an expiry for food hygiene certificates, but it is recommended to refresh the qualification every three years. Additional courses may be required if the food legislation changes.
If you are a food business and need to replace your equipment, there is a large selection available as adhering to safety protocols is always easier when the right equipment is available. Businesses will also benefit from ensuring their food handlers possess food safety certificates as proof that they have been properly trained.
What good kitchen training should cover
Food safety sits within a wider set of skills needed to work safely in a commercial kitchen. A basic training course should cover knife safety, food handling, sanitation and the safe use of equipment. Many employers will want to see a food safety or hygiene certificate before taking someone on, and courses are available both online and in a classroom.
The best programmes include a practical element, with hands-on training alongside the theory. Learning how to work with different tools and methods in a busy kitchen is just as important as knowing the rules on paper.
Good training benefits the whole business. It improves compliance, makes the kitchen a safer place and tends to raise staff satisfaction. Hygiene also has a direct effect on reputation, because customers can leave a review in seconds and a few poor ones about cleanliness can quickly reduce the number of people coming through the door.