About this course
Foundation food safety for anyone who handles low-risk or wrapped food, or works in a food environment. It covers personal hygiene, cleaning and the basics of keeping food safe.
A practical starting point before Level 2 for food handlers.
What learners cover
- Why food safety matters and the consequences of poor practice
- Personal hygiene standards for food areas
- The main food safety hazards: microbiological, chemical, physical and allergenic
- Cleaning, disinfection and waste handling
- Keeping food at safe temperatures
- Pest awareness and reporting problems
Course content
The course is delivered in short, bite-size sections that learners can stop and restart at any point.
- Section 1
Introduction to food safety
Food safety law in outline, and the cost of poor hygiene to people and businesses.
- Section 2
Personal hygiene
Handwashing, protective clothing, fitness to work and reporting illness.
- Section 3
Hazards and contamination
The four hazard types, cross-contamination and allergen awareness.
- Section 4
Cleaning and storage
Cleaning schedules, temperature control, stock rotation and waste.
Who it is for
Staff working in or around food areas who handle wrapped or low-risk food, including front of house, retail and support staff.
Entry requirements: None. Suitable for new food-area staff.
How it is delivered
Fully online and self-paced
Learners work through the course at their own pace and can pause and resume where they left off.
Any device
Works on desktop, laptop, tablet and mobile, with audio, video and written transcripts throughout.
Interactive throughout
Scenarios, exercises and images keep learners engaged rather than clicking through slides.
Knowledge checks
Short checks at the end of each section so learners can see what has landed before moving on.
Average completion time is around 1 hours, though learners can take as long as they need and return as often as they like.
How it is assessed
Knowledge checks run throughout the course so learners can test understanding as they go. The course finishes with a multiple-choice assessment taken online at the end. Learners who do not pass first time can retake the assessment.
Certification
Learners receive a Highfield Online Training digital certificate as soon as they pass the end-of-course assessment. Certificates are downloadable straight away and can be saved to a CPD log or staff training record.
Refresher guidance: Refresher training is usually taken every three years, or sooner if practice changes.
How it works for teams
- 1. Choose how many licences you need and pay by card, or request an invoice.
- 2. Add your learners' names and email addresses.
- 3. We set them up on the course platform and they receive their login by email.
- 4. Track who has been set up from your account.