Serve with confidence: Master safe food handling with our food hygiene courses

The price of training varies based on your chosen food hygiene and safety training level. Online Level 1 and Level 2 food hygiene and safety courses are less expensive, while Level 3 food hygiene and safety courses are more thorough and typically conducted face to face and designed for those staff supervising and managing food safety systems. 

Anyone who handles, prepares, serves and is involved in food must legally undergo food hygiene training. Successful completion of food hygiene courses typically results in a verifiable certificate, serving as proof of training completion and shown to the Environmental Health Officer.

Anyone handling food should receive initial training within three months of starting a role. Most individuals will need online Level 2 Food Hygiene and Safety training for food handling. If you are not handling raw/open food, you should take online Level 1 Food Hygiene and Safety training. You should refresh your training every 2 years to revisit important food hygiene topics, ensuring compliance and refreshing your knowledge.

• Level 1: This training is suitable for individuals in food-related roles who don’t handle or prepare raw food.
• Level 2: Most people working in the food industry, including those who prepare or serve food, typically take this course.
• Level 3: Supervisors and managers who require a comprehensive understanding of food safety control should opt for this level.

If you’re uncertain, it’s advisable to start with Level 2, which covers fundamental food hygiene topics like contamination prevention, personal hygiene, cleaning and safe cooking practices.

You have the flexibility to take food hygiene courses at any level without having to take them in a particular order. The level primarily serves as a way to gauge the depth of content covered in each training course. Your selection should align with the training requirements for your role in food preparation.

You, or anyone else, can easily verify your food hygiene certificate by using our Verify Certificate tool on our website. Simply enter your certificate’s unique reference number to check its completion and renewal date.

No, a food hygiene certificate is not legally required. However, UK food handling law mandates that anyone handling food must demonstrate they have received training, either on the job or through self-training. You or your employer can keep a record of your certificate to show to anyone who asks about your training.

When you train with Smart Horizons, you’ll have the advantage of our online Learning Management System (LMS). Our LMS securely stores digital copies of all your training certificates in a centralised online system. You can easily access and view your certificates from virtually any device with an internet connection, at any time after completing the course.

Obtaining a food handler’s certificate is important because it demonstrates that individuals who prepare, handle or serve food have undergone food safety training. This food handler’s certificate serves as evidence to Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) that food businesses comply with food hygiene regulations, ensuring the health and safety of customers and mitigating the risk of foodborne illnesses.