Ensuring proper food handling at work is critical for maintaining high standards of food safety and hygiene. Whether you run a restaurant, café, or a food manufacturing business, understanding the best practices in food handling can prevent foodborne illnesses and keep your customers safe. Here are the best three sources of advice on food handling at work.
1. A Food Safety & Hygiene Consultant
What They Offer
A food safety and hygiene consultant provides expert advice tailored to your specific business needs. Their services include:
- Conducting risk assessments
- Designing and implementing food safety management systems
- Providing staff training
- Auditing your current practices and recommending improvements
Benefits to Your Company
Hiring a consultant can significantly benefit your business by ensuring compliance with legal requirements and industry standards. They help identify potential hazards and implement preventive measures, reducing the risk of foodborne illnesses. This proactive approach can also enhance your business’s reputation, instilling confidence in your customers.
Use Case
A consultant is particularly useful for new businesses setting up their food safety systems or existing businesses looking to improve or update their current practices. They can also be invaluable ahead of audits or inspections by regulatory bodies as they will be able to audit and help fix issues before a real inspection or re-inspection, to help increase your business’ food hygiene rating.
Cost
The cost of hiring a food safety and hygiene consultant varies depending on the scope of the work and the consultant’s experience. On average, you can expect to pay between £300 to £1,000 per day.
Where to Find One
To find a reputable food safety and hygiene consultant, you can:
- Search on Google
- Check with professional organisations such as the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) or the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH)
2. Food Safety and Hygiene Courses
Use Case
Food safety and hygiene courses are essential for training your staff in the basics of food handling. They are particularly beneficial for new employees or as a refresher for existing staff, and offer a comprehensive way to ensure that best practice knowledge exists within the business. These courses also act as evidence of due diligence which can be used as a defence in case of litigation.
Cost
These courses are very affordable, typically costing just £10 per course if you buy from Essential Food Hygiene. This makes them accessible for businesses of all sizes. Bulk discounts are available if your order more than 10 seats.
What the Learner Will Learn
Participants will learn crucial aspects of food safety, including:
- Personal hygiene
- Cross-contamination prevention
- Correct storage and handling of food
- Cleaning and sanitising procedures
Benefits to the Company
Investing in staff training can lead to fewer food safety incidents, improved customer satisfaction, and compliance with legal requirements. Well-trained staff are more confident and efficient, contributing to the overall success of your business. In addition, if a staff member’s neglect causes a customer to become unwell, your business would be in a stronger legal position if it can prove that it provided the staff with the adequate training. All Essential Food Hygiene courses are independently accredited by CPD Group each year to ensure they are up-to-date with best practice and UK legislation.
Where to Do the Course
You can find food safety and hygiene courses online on this website. The most popular course for food businesses is the Level 2 Food Hygiene & Safety course. The law states that food handlers must be supervised and instructed and/or trained in food hygiene matters in line with their work activity. Our level 2 food hygiene course has been designed specifically to meet this requirement across all sectors.
3. Food Standards Agency
Overview
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is an invaluable resource for anyone involved in the food industry. Their website (https://www.food.gov.uk/) offers a wealth of information on a variety of topics, from starting and running a food business to specific sectors such as meat and slaughter, dairy and farming, allergens, nutrition, and hygiene ratings.
Free Courses
The FSA also provides free online food safety training courses, which are an excellent resource for businesses looking to train their staff without incurring additional costs. You can access these courses here: FSA Online Food Safety Training.
How to Contact Them
If you have specific questions or need further assistance, you can contact the Food Standards Agency directly. Here is how to reach them: Contact Food Standards Agency.
Benefits
The comprehensive information and resources available on the FSA website can help businesses stay updated on the latest food safety regulations and best practices, ensuring compliance and protecting public health.