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Food hygiene training & guidance

A proprietor of a food business must ensure that food handlers engaged in the food business are supervised, instructed and/or trained in food hygiene matters commensurate with their food activity. They must also ensure that food handlers know what the food safety system requires them to do and what to do when things go wrong to protect consumers.

Supervision and instruction

The person in control of a food business should properly supervise and instruct all staff to ensure that they work hygienically.

There may also be a need for greater supervision:

• for new staff awaiting formal training
• for staff handling high risk foods
• for less experienced staff

Even if staff have received formal training, supervision must depend upon the competence and experience of the individual food handler

Small food operations should place greater emphasis on formal training to enable unsupervised work with occasional monitoring.

Management Aids

Written management systems including as cleaning schedules, temperature monitoring, delivery checks and hygiene lists can be useful aids to managing the food operation. Providing that you monitor and review these systems on a regular basis. If you require more information on such management systems please contact Environmental Health

Appropriate training

Previous industry guidelines for the former food hygiene regulations included the following guidance:

Category A Staff e.g. Handing low risk or wrapped food only i.e. bar staff, waiters, delivery drivers etc.

Recommended level of training.:

Category B Staff e.g. Food Handlers handling or preparing high risk open foods i.e. chef, cook, kitchen assistant, servery staff

Recommended level of training.:

Category C Staff e.g. Food Handlers with a supervisory role i.e. managers or supervisors who handle food

Recommended level of training.:

Other Staff e.g. Cleaners

Induction and the essentials of Food Hygiene (before starting)
Hygiene Awareness (within four weeks of starting)

However, recent guidance indicates that compliance with the training requirements for food handlers and managers need not necessarily include attending formal and/or accredited training, whether external or in-house. The necessary skills may also be obtained in other ways such as through on-the-job training, self study or relevant prior experience. Overall the food business operator must be able to show that they and their food handlers are competent to provide safe food and are operating appropriate food safety measures based on HACCP principles.

Safer Food Better Business

If you operate the Food Standards Agency Safer Food Better Business system you must ensure that food handlers receive training in the safe methods you are using. This training must be recorded in the individuals training record section of the pack, together with any retraining where problems have been identified by the diary and four week review process.

Records

Records of all food hygiene and safety training should be kept to show what has been provided for each individual and ensure continuity of training provision.

The following Organisations list companies that offer food hygiene training courses and bilingual trainers.

• CHARTERED INSTITUTE OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH OFFICERS 0207 928 6006 www.cieh.org (This link will open in a new window)
• SOCIETY OF FOOD HYGIENE TECHNOLOGY 01590 671979 www.sofht.co.uk (This link will open in a new window)
• ROYAL SOCIETY OF PUBLIC HEALTH 0203 177 1600 www.rsph.org (This link will open in a new window)

Local Provision of Low Cost level 3 and level 2 Food Hygiene Training

This Authority is now running level 2 & 3 Food Hygiene Courses for local catering businesses and their employees.

If you would like to be informed about any courses please email eh@tandridge.gov.uk to register your interest or look at our on line booking page.

The following documents provided guidance on the training standards for each type of industry under the former foods laws, however,they are being progressively replaced:

• The Industry Guide to Good Hygiene Practice - Catering Guide Ref ISBN 0900103-00-0
• The Industry Guide to Good Hygiene Practice - Retail Guide Ref ISBN 0900103-60- 4
• The Industry Guide to Good Hygiene Practice - Baking Guide Ref ISBN 0 - 900103-55-8
• The Industry Guide to Good Hygiene Practice - Wholesale Distribution Ref ISBN 0900103-65-5
• The Industry Guide to Good Hygiene Practice - Markets and Fairs Ref ISBN 0900103-65-5
• Industry Guide to Good Practice - Fresh Produce Ref ISBN 1902423194
• Industry Guide to Good Practice - Flour Milling Ref ISBN 1902423208
• Industry Guide to Good Practice - Vending & Dispensing (supplement to catering guide) Ref ISBN 1902423003
• Industry Guide to Good Hygiene Practice: Bottled Water Guide Ref ISBN 1904306314
• The Industry Guide to Good Hygiene Practice - Butchers Licensing supplement to the Retail Guide Ref ISBN 19022423828

The above guidance documents can be obtained from:

Chadwick House Group Limited, Publications Department, Chadwick Court, 15 Hatfields, London SE1 8DJ Tel: 020 7827 6006

These guides are being replaced in light of changes in Food Safety Regulations and do not reflect all the laws brought into effect in January 2006 ,but may be of help.

The new industry guides as they are published can be ordered from The Stationary Office using the following Food Standards Agency link page:

The Stationery Office (This link will open in a new window)

The following have been published so far:

Food Industry Guide to Good Hygiene Practice: Retail guide ISBN 9780112431022
Food Industry Guide to Good Hygiene Practice: Mail Order ISBN 9780112430971
Food Industry Guide to Good Hygiene Practice: Wholesale Distributors ISBN 9780112431015
Food Industry Guide to Good Hygiene Practice: Vending and Dispensing ISBN 9780112430995
Food Industry Guide to Good Hygiene Practice: Flour Milling ISBN 9780112430988
Food Industry Guide to Good Hygiene Practice: Bottled Water ISBN 9780112431008

For further information please contact Environmental Health on 01883 732841 or e-mail eh@tandridge.gov.uk

Or write to us at:
Tandridge District Council
8 Station Road East
Oxted Surrey RH8 0BT

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