What Food Hygiene Qualifications do I need to work in a kitchen?
The good news is that when it comes to working with food there really is only one simple rule to remember: if you sell food or make food to be sold, you need at least a Level 2 Hygiene Certificate in Catering – by law.
And this isn’t a one-off; every three years an Environmental Health officer will do an inspection to evaluate your Food Hygiene skills, so it’s essential that you stay on top of your knowledge.
This needn’t be a difficult process though, getting your Food Hygiene Certificate can take as little as 2 hours and will make all the difference when Environmental Health come knocking!
What are the different levels of certifications?
We just saw before that the level 2 certificate is the level of certification you need to make or handle food. However, the Food Safety certification system is composed of 4 levels:
Level 1 is an excellent introduction to working with food. It is simple, interesting and memorable and will serve as a food foundation to handling safe food.
It is a really good basis for Food Handlers but is insufficient if you make food to be sold or serve the food directly to customers.
Level 2 Food Hygiene Certificate is, as we said before, the main certification you need to handle, make and serve food in any restaurant.
It is one of the most popular courses as it needs to be completed every three years.
Level 3 is a more intense course that is designed for people managing and supervising a team of Food Handlers.
Level 4 allows you to train others in food handling.
Where can I get my certification?
In the past it was only possible to take this course in colleges and specially appointed schools, now however you have the opportunity to take all of these courses online, in the comfort of your own home (we’ll let you decide how you take your tea).
So, what’s stopping you?
