Food hygiene and safety : what any food handler should know?
People walk into any food premises with heads and a phone full of information about the food they want to order. Consumers now have higher expectations from businesses serving food regarding food temperature, used by date, hygiene, allergen, and hazardous substances. Food businesses now have greater responsibilities and are under tighter scrutiny than ever.
Need a training?
Consumer trust and retention depend on providing safe and healthy food options. As a food business, it’s essential to understand and implement the necessary measures to ensure food safety. The safety of the food and yourself varies on your work environment – you may be exposed to various hazards such as dangerous equipment, poor housekeeping, harmful substances, and even a lack of awareness.
The key to ensuring safety is to be aware of when hazards occur and take steps to minimise or prevent them from occurring.
We’ll discuss various essential food safety regulations and certifications that can help your business maintain food safety and earn the trust of your customers.
Food Safety in Catering: why do you need this for the team?
Level 1 Food Safety in Catering is essential training for team working in the food service industry. This training provides a foundational understanding of food safety practices and covers key topics such as personal hygiene, safe food storage, proper food preparation, and effective cleaning techniques.
Through this training, the team learn the importance of maintaining high standards of personal hygiene, such as regularly washing their hands and avoiding cross-contamination. They also learn about the proper storage of food, including refrigeration and temperature control, as well as the safe handling and preparation of food products to prevent foodborne illness.
Level 2 Food Safety in Catering is an essential intermediate-level training program for the team in the food industry who want to deepen their understanding of food safety. This training provides comprehensive knowledge about food safety hazards and risks, including HACCP principles and food safety management systems. Team members who complete this training will have the skills and knowledge to identify and mitigate food safety risks, ensuring they are confident and competent in maintaining a safe and hygienic working environment.
Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP)
Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) is a proactive and preventive food safety management system that helps businesses identify and control potential food safety hazards. The HACCP approach prevents problems before they occur and ensure that food is safe for consumption by consumers.
Critical control points (CCPs)?
Supervising Food Safety is a certification that is designed for individuals who are responsible for supervising food handlers in a food business. This certification covers topics such as food safety legislation, HACCP principles, and food safety management systems.
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH)
In the UK, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has enforced regulations to protect workers from the health risks associated with hazardous substances. COSHH applies to a wide range of substances, including chemicals, fumes, dusts, gases, and biological agents, which are used or produced in many workplaces, including food businesses. These substances can cause a variety of health problems, from skin irritation to cancer, respiratory problems, and more.
The purpose of COSHH is to ensure that employers take necessary measures to control and manage hazardous substances in the workplace, in order to protect the health and safety of their team. This includes conducting a risk assessment, providing adequate information, training, and supervision to employees, implementing control measures to reduce exposure, and monitoring the effectiveness of these measures.
HSE provides a free bookelet for all food business to identify the substances hazardous to health.
Awareness about food Allergies
In the UK, there are specific laws and regulations in place to protect consumers with food allergies. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) requires food businesses to provide clear information about the allergenic ingredients in their products. This information must be accurate, consistent, and easily accessible to consumers. Failure to comply with these regulations can result in fines and legal action.
Allergen Awareness training is an essential requirement for all food handlers in the UK. The training covers the identification and management of allergens in the workplace, including cross-contamination,
ingredient substitutions, and communication with customers. The training is designed to ensure that food handlers have the knowledge and skills necessary to provide safe and allergen-free food to consumers.
The UK has seen a rise in food allergy cases in recent years, particularly among children. The FSA estimates that around 2 million people in the UK have a food allergy, with 600,000 of those being children. It is crucial for food businesses to take allergen awareness seriously to protect consumers and avoid legal action.
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To train more than two members of your team, try our Business Training Options. Contact us for bespoke bulk pricing.
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