Food Hygiene Training Courses
Master food safety with our ROSPA Assured and CPD Approved food hygiene training courses. Whether you're an individual looking to level up your skills or a business training your entire team, our flexible online courses make food safety compliance simple. Get certified at your own pace, with 24/7 instant access and immediate certificates – no classroom required.
Our online food hygiene courses
Stay compliant and confident with our comprehensive collection of food hygiene training courses that meet the latest UK and EU requirements.
Our subject matter experts have designed these courses to transform traditional training into an engaging learning experience, using interactivity and real-world scenarios to help knowledge stick.
Explore our catalogue of 25+ food hygiene courses today.
Essential food safety certificates
Build your food safety knowledge with foundational training. These are some of our most popular and recognised courses:
Take your food hygiene expertise further
Ready to enhance your food hygiene knowledge? Our specialist courses are perfect for managers and supervisors looking to develop comprehensive safety systems or brush up on specialised subject knowledge:
Fully online, fully accredited
Earn a food safety certificate on your own terms with our industry-leading online courses. With 24/7 online access and full ROSPA and CPD accreditation, you get the flexibility you need without compromising on standards.
These certifications are recognised nationwide and Environmental Health Officers accept them as proof of your food hygiene knowledge.
In the 25+ years since Virtual College was founded, we've helped over 750,000 food professionals earn online certifications - so you can rest easy that you’re in safe hands.
Manage staff? Train your team online
Looking to buy specific food and hygiene courses? Purchase exactly what you need through our online shop with volume discounts available:
- 20% off orders of 10+ courses
- 30% off orders of 50+ courses
- 40% off orders of 100+ courses
Discover our all-access training subscription
Get unlimited access to our entire library of online training courses. Our subscription package includes access to the full food safety training suite as well as our catalogue of 200+ courses including Health & Safety training, Business Compliance courses, Safeguarding training courses, Leadership & Management training and Personal Development courses.
The perfect option for businesses looking to provide ongoing training for their staff. Get started with a free demo or speak to us today about your needs.
Unlimited access to our 200-course library | 12-month subscription | Pay per employee | Quick 48-hour set-up
Who needs food and hygiene courses
Food hygiene training is vital for ensuring safety whenever food is prepared, handled or served. Here's who needs certification across different sectors:
- Retail workers handling food in supermarkets, delis and bakeries
- Care sector staff preparing meals in nursing homes and childcare facilities
- School kitchen teams and food manufacturing workers
- Food delivery drivers and market vendors
- Small food and beverage business owners and mobile vendors like food truck operators
- In restaurants and cafés, everyone from chefs, kitchen staff and front-of-house staff need certification
- In healthcare settings, anyone involved in food service or handling patient meals needs proper training
The key is: if you're handling food that others will consume, you need food hygiene training. But don’t worry, here at Virtual College we make getting the food hygiene accreditation you need simple and affordable.
Find the right food hygiene certification for you
Whether you’re an individual staff member or you’re bringing your whole team up to speed with food hygiene awareness, we have a course that’s right for you.
Here’s the basic rule of thumb when deciding which level of essential food hygiene course you need:
Level 1: This level is right for introductory training for staff working with food or those who don't directly handle food but need a level of awareness of basic food hygiene principles. This introductory food hygiene training takes 1-2 hours to complete.
Level 2: This level tends to be a requirement for anyone who directly works with food, making it our most popular food safety certification. This basic food hygiene course will take 2-3 hours to complete.
Level 3: This is a higher level of accreditation that focuses on establishing food safety systems, so is most appropriate for supervisors and managers. Known as intermediate food hygiene training, this certification takes 8-9 hours to complete.
Still not sure? Read our short guide to quickly find out which is best for you.
Related Resources
Food Hygiene FAQs
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Do food hygiene certificates expire?
While food hygiene certificates do not have an expiry date, it is recommended that you renew it every three years.
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What is the Food Safety Act?
The Food Safety Act 1990 is the legal framework for all food legislation in Britain. It's designed to ensure that food handlers do not add anything to food or remove anything from it, or treat it in a way that could damage a person's health after consumption. It also states that the way food is sold, served, labelled and advertised meets the quality that customers expect.
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Who is responsible for food safety?
Food handlers and food businesses are responsible for the safety of the food that they provide to consumers. Their responsibilities include ensuring food is safe for consumption, and that its quality meets expectations. Food also needs to be labelled and advertised in a way that is not misleading, especially where allergies and intolerances are concerned.
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Why is food hygiene important?
If food is not prepared in a hygienic way, it may be unsafe for consumption and could increase the risk of foodborne illnesses. Good food hygiene is important for your business and its reputation, as well as the health of your customers. It's therefore vital to ensure all staff have received food hygiene training.
