Basic Food Hygiene Level 1 Course

Basic Food Hygiene Level 1 – Online Course

Course overview
This online course introduces the fundamental principles of safe food handling and hygiene. It is designed for people who work around food or have limited food handling responsibilities and need a basic understanding of food safety. Learners find out how contamination occurs, the types of food safety hazards, and the importance of personal hygiene, allergen awareness and safe food storage. The course takes approximately one hour and is CPD accredited.

Please note: This is an introductory, Level 1 course that provides basic food safety awareness. It does not replace any practical, regulated or role-specific training an employer may require, and it is not intended for those who directly prepare or cook food, for whom Level 2 is described as more appropriate.

What the course covers
• Food safety awareness
• Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) principles
• Microbiological hazards, including temperature control
• Physical hazards
• Chemical hazards, including COSHH
• Allergenic hazards, including anaphylaxis
• Personal hygiene, including dos and don’ts
• Cleaning, including detergents, disinfectants and areas to clean
• Storage, handling and refrigeration, including stock rotation and refrigeration rules

Who is it for?
The course is suitable for anyone who works around food but is not directly responsible for preparing or handling high-risk foods. It is particularly appropriate for:
• Catering assistants and front of house staff
• Kitchen porters and cleaners
• Stock assistants and baristas
• Volunteers, charity workers and activity leaders
• Healthcare staff, social care workers and support staff

It is also suitable for new employees during induction, existing staff completing refresher training and organisations seeking to improve food safety awareness. It can provide a foundation before progressing to higher-level food hygiene qualifications where a role involves more direct food preparation.

Practical benefits
• Recognise common food safety hazards and contamination risks
• Apply good personal hygiene and cleaning practices
• Understand the basics of HACCP and food safety controls
• Store food safely to reduce spoilage and bacterial growth
• Understand the importance of allergen management
• Support workplace compliance with UK food hygiene requirements
• Help protect patients, residents, colleagues, customers and visitors
• Gain a CPD-accredited digital certificate for professional development

What learners will be able to do
• Explain key principles of food safety and hygiene
• Recognise biological, chemical, physical and allergen hazards
• Prevent cross-contamination through safer working practices
• Understand appropriate personal hygiene standards
• Apply safe storage and temperature-control principles
• Understand cleaning and disinfection requirements
• Recognise the importance of accurate allergen information
• Respond appropriately to food safety concerns or incidents

Is this training a legal requirement?
UK legislation does not specify that employees must complete a particular Food Safety Level 1 qualification. However, food businesses are legally required to ensure that food handlers receive supervision, instruction and training appropriate to their work. These responsibilities arise under Regulation (EC) No. 852/2004 on the hygiene of foodstuffs (retained in UK law), together with the Food Safety Act 1990 and the Food Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013, or equivalent regulations in the devolved nations. This course provides suitable introductory knowledge for staff working around food and can help employers demonstrate that appropriate food hygiene instruction has been provided.

Assessment and certificate
Learners complete an online multiple-choice assessment at the end of the course. Successful learners receive an instant digital CPD-accredited certificate. The course is delivered online with instant access, so learners can study at their own pace on a phone, tablet or computer.