HOW OFTEN TO RENEW FOOD HYGIENE CERTIFICATE

This question gets asked various ways, such as, how often is a Food Handler certificate renewal required? Or, when is a food handler certificate renewal needed? Lets try and answer this:

There is no law or regulations on how often a food hygiene certificate needs to be renewed. The Food Safety (General Food Hygiene) Regulations 1995 simply state that food handlers must be ‘trained in food hygiene matters commensurate with their work activities‘.

Environmental Health Officers do like to see that refresher training is provided regularly because knowledge and skills can become forgotten in time. Consequently the current best practice for food hygiene certificate renewal is every three years.

It is also essential that workers have up-to-date food hygiene knowledge. This can be best demonstrated by taking a food hygiene training course on a regular basis.

Legislation can and does change, which means that a food handlers’ knowledge may be out of date if they haven't done a recent training course. It is the law that anybody involved with food handling or preparation must have current food hygiene knowledge and be aware of the most recent best practices. Again the best way to ensure this is to regularly have a food certificate renew.

HOW OFTEN DOES FOOD HYGIENE TRAINING NEED TO BE REVIEWED?

This is a good question and the answer is a little different to the one about a food certificate renewal.

If you become aware of a change in best working practices in another food business, that handles food or prepares food. Or food safety hygiene guidelines alter and you are working with food, then you should immediately consider reviewing your training.

The most cost effective way to renew a food safety certificate is an online food safety course. This will cover how to safely prepare food and the steps required to avoid food poisoning.

A Level 2 food hygiene or level 2 food safety course may be required if your staff have changed from serving food (a level 1 course) to preparing it (a level 2 course).

It is good practice to regularly review all training, especially food hygiene and food safety as the consequences of getting it wrong can lead to food poisoning and the business being closed down.