About this course
The standard course for food handlers. It covers the law, contamination, temperature control, personal hygiene and HACCP-based food safety management.
Suitable as underpinning knowledge for a Level 2 food safety qualification in catering, manufacturing or retail.
What learners cover
- Food safety law and the role of enforcement officers
- Microbiological, chemical, physical and allergenic contamination
- Bacterial growth and the danger zone
- Temperature control: cooking, chilling, reheating and hot holding
- Personal hygiene and fitness to work
- Cleaning, pest control and HACCP-based procedures
Course content
The course is delivered in short, bite-size sections that learners can stop and restart at any point.
- Section 1
Food safety law
Duties of food businesses and food handlers, inspections and the food hygiene rating.
- Section 2
Contamination
The four hazard types, cross-contamination controls and the 14 allergens.
- Section 3
Temperature control
Bacterial growth, the danger zone, cooking, cooling, chilling and hot holding.
- Section 4
Managing food safety
Personal hygiene, cleaning schedules, pest control, waste and HACCP principles.
Who it is for
Anyone who handles open or high-risk food, including chefs, kitchen staff, care catering, retail and manufacturing operatives.
Entry requirements: None, though Level 1 knowledge is useful.
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 2 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.