Food hygiene certificates must be renewed every 3 years for Level 1 and Level 2 staff. If a certificate expires, the staff member can continue handling food but you need to renew the training as soon as possible to prove the employee's understanding.
For Level 1 and 2 certificates, online renewal courses are available which can be completed quickly. However, it's best practice to schedule renewals before expiry to avoid any gaps in certification.
Common misunderstanding: Once a food hygiene certificate expires, an employee must stop working immediately until they have renewed it.
While it is crucial to renew food hygiene certificates promptly, employees can continue to work handling food even if their certificate has expired. However, employers should ensure the training is renewed as soon as possible to maintain compliance and demonstrate the employee's continued understanding of food safety practices.
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To ensure food safety, you must obtain written confirmation of an agency worker’s food hygiene qualifications before they work in kitchen areas or handle any food.
New staff must complete food hygiene training before handling any food. This initial training ensures they understand basic food hygiene practices and can work safely from day one.
Kitchen porters need a Level 1 food hygiene certificate. This provides them with basic food hygiene knowledge to contribute to a safe food environment.
Yes, waiters need a Level 1 food hygiene certificate even if they do not directly handle food.
Level 3 food hygiene certificates can be completed either online or in person.
Yes, you should provide additional allergen training whenever your menu changes to ensure that all staff are aware of the allergens present in the new items.
Your Level 2 food hygiene certificate must be renewed every three years to ensure you remain compliant with current food safety standards.
Level 4 food hygiene certification is required for senior management positions, including executive head chefs and members of the HACCP team who oversee overall food safety compliance.
Your current food hygiene certificate is valid if it is the appropriate level for your role and has not expired.
All training activities should be documented digitally using the designated Training activity.