Food Hygiene
Health & Safety
Safeguarding
First Aid
Business Skills
Personal Development
Recommended renewal: 3 years.
Our certifications have no expiry dates, but we recommend renewing them to stay up to date with industry best practices.
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Food hygiene Level 1 is a short course for people who work around food but don’t cook it, such as waiting, retail, delivery and cleaning staff. It matters because there are around 2.4 million cases of foodborne illness in the UK every year, according to the Food Standards Agency.
Not every food safety mistake happens at the stove. A waiter guesses whether a dish contains nuts. A driver leaves a chilled order in a warm van. A cleaner wipes the bin, then the counter, with the same cloth.
Five short modules show you how to avoid all three, covering food hazards and the 14 allergens, temperature control, personal hygiene, and cleaning. The course takes about 2 hours 20 minutes. Pass the exam and download your CPD-accredited level 1 food hygiene certificate straight away.
Last audited and updated on: 15th October 2026
- Institute of Hospitality Endorsed
- Quality Licence Scheme Endorsed
- CPD Certified Free Certificate
- Developed by Qualified Food Safety Professionals
- Local Authority Approved
- Audited and Approved by EHOs
- Meets UK & EU Legal Requirements
- 100% Online Course
- Free Retake Exam
- 24/7 Learning Assistance
Skill Value in United Kingdom in 2026
£28,900 Average Salary, Up to £43,700/yr for this skill according to top UK career sites.
£28,900 Average Salary, Up to £43,700/yr for this skill according to top UK career sites.
Sneak Peek
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, learners will be able to:
- Explain why food hygiene matters and who it protects.
- Describe the basics of UK food hygiene law and what it expects from staff.
- Spot the four types of food safety hazard: microbiological, allergenic, physical and chemical.
- Recognise the 14 allergens UK law requires food businesses to declare.
- Help prevent cross-contamination between foods and surfaces.
- Explain the Danger Zone and why chilled food must stay cold.
- Tell the difference between high-risk and low-risk foods.
- Follow good personal hygiene, including correct handwashing and clean workwear.
- Know when to report illness or a hazard to your manager.
- Keep work areas clean by cleaning as you go and getting rid of waste safely.
What is Level 1 Food Hygiene and Safety?
Level 1 Food Hygiene and Safety is an entry-level food hygiene course for people who work around food but don’t prepare, cook or handle open food, such as waiting staff, retail staff, delivery drivers and kitchen porters. It teaches basic awareness of food hazards, temperature control, personal hygiene and cleaning.
Who Should Take The Food Hygiene Level 1 Course
This course is for anyone whose job puts them near food, even if they never prepare it. If you serve, sell, carry, store or clean around food, Level 1 gives you the basics.
- Front-of-house and waiting staff
- Bar staff and baristas serving pre-made food
- Retail and checkout staff selling wrapped or pre-packaged food
- Delivery drivers carrying food orders
- Warehouse and stock staff handling food deliveries
- Kitchen porters and pot wash staff
- Cleaners working in kitchens, cafés and food shops
- School lunchtime supervisors and volunteers at food events
Note: If you cook, prepare or handle open food, such as sandwiches, salads or raw meat, choose our Level 2 Food Hygiene and Safety for Catering instead.
Why Take This Food Hygiene Level 1 Course
Level 2 training is built for chefs and kitchen staff. Level 1 is built for everyone else: the people who serve, sell, deliver and clean around food every day. It teaches what your role needs, without the cooking detail you’ll never use.
- Stop guessing about allergens. When a customer asks what's in a dish, you'll understand why a wrong answer is dangerous and why you should always check.
- Know what to do when things go wrong. Spot a chilled delivery that has warmed up, signs of pests, or a spill that needs cleaning straight away.
- Stop germs spreading. Learn simple habits that make a real difference, from proper handwashing to using the right cloth for the job.
- Know when to speak up. Learn which illnesses to report and when you should stay off work.
- Fit learning around your shifts. Each module takes between 13 and 30 minutes, so you can learn in short bursts.
- Build a base for Level 2. If you later move into a kitchen role, you'll already know the basics.
Job Opportunities & Salary Expectations in UK
A food hygiene Level 1 certificate is useful for many entry-level jobs in hospitality, retail and logistics. Some employers ask for it before you start; others ask you to complete it in your first weeks.
- Waiter or waitress: £17,000 – £27,000
- Bar person: £19,000 – £24,000
- Barista: £19,000 – £24,000
- Kitchen porter: £19,000 – £25,000
- Sales assistant: £19,000 – £27,000
- Delivery van driver: £20,000 – £27,000
- Warehouse worker: £21,000 – £30,000
- Cleaner: £19,000 – £25,000
Source: National Careers Service job profiles. Pay depends on location, hours and employer.
Entry Requirements Level 1 Food Hygiene and Safety
- No previous qualifications or food hygiene knowledge needed.
- A phone, tablet or laptop with an internet connection.
- Enough English to follow the course and answer the exam questions.
Why This Food Hygiene Certificate Matters?
UK law says food businesses must make sure staff are supervised and instructed or trained in food hygiene to suit their work (Regulation (EC) No 852/2004, as kept in UK law). No law names one certificate you must hold. A certificate is the clearest way to show that training has happened.
That matters in three ways:
- For inspections: your certificate is accepted by EHOs as evidence of food hygiene training. When inspectors give a food hygiene rating, they look at how well the business manages food safety, including staff training.
- For customers: mistakes with allergens, temperature or cleaning can make people seriously ill. Trained staff spot problems sooner.
- For your career: a certificate on your CV shows employers you're ready to work safely from your first shift.
Assessment
At the end of the course, there will be an online assessment, which you will need to pass to complete the course. Answers are marked instantly and automatically, allowing you to know straight away whether you have passed. If you haven’t, there’s no limit on the number of times you can take the final exam. All this is included in the one-time fee you paid for the course itself.
Accreditation
All of our courses, including this Level 1 Food Hygiene and Safety is fully accredited, providing you with up-to-date skills and knowledge and helping you to become more competent and effective in your chosen field.
CPD Accredited
All of our courses are accredited by the CPD Certification Service as conforming to universally accepted Continuing Professional Development (CPD) guidelines.
Endorsed by the Institute of Hospitality
This course is endorsed by the Institute of Hospitality, recognising it as independently evaluated, high-quality training that delivers best-practice standards.
Audited and approved by EHOs
This course has been audited and approved by Environmental Health Officers. The training content has been independently reviewed and confirmed to include the essential knowledge required to meet the specified level of training.
RoSPA Membership
RoSPA Membership recognises commitment to health and safety excellence, offering guidance, resources, and credibility to organisations aiming to reduce risks and improve workplace safety standards.
British Safety Council Member
A British Safety Council Member demonstrates commitment to high health, safety, and wellbeing standards, promoting best practices and safer workplaces across industries.
Food Hygiene Certification
Once you’ve successfully completed your course, you will immediately be sent a digital certificate. Also, you can have your printed certificate delivered by post (shipping cost £5.99). All of our courses are fully accredited, providing you with up-to-date skills and knowledge and helping you to become more competent and effective in your chosen field.
Furthermore, this Level 1 Food Hygiene and Safety course is endorsed by the Institute of Hospitality ensuring quality content that teaches industry standards and best practices.
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Course Contents
Module 01: Introduction to Food Hygiene Legislation and Food-borne Illness
We will discuss who will benefit from the course and why food hygiene is so important. We will look at the legislation around food hygiene, understanding food safety, and common health issues caused by contaminants.
Module 02: Types of Food Safety Hazards
We will look at the main microbiological hazards, allergenic hazards, physical hazards, and chemical hazards. We look at the potential impact of them contaminating foodstuffs and explore various ways to control for them in practice.
Module 03: Hazard Control Measures and Refrigeration
You will learn about the conditions under which food becomes contaminated with bacterial growth. We will also look at temperature control, the Danger Zone, controlling time, low and high-risk foods, controlling microbiological hazards, food deliveries, refrigeration and pests.
Module 04: Food Handlers Personal Hygiene
In this module we will look into hand hygiene, hand washing, hair hygiene, body hygiene and bad habits, personal protective equipment (PPE), and reporting illnesses.
Module 05: Cleaning and Disinfection
We look at why cleaning is important, good practice around waste management, cleaning and disinfection, the concept of clean as you go, keeping dishwashers clean, and the requirement for scheduled cleaning.
Level 1 Food Hygiene and Safety Course Reviews
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FAQs About Level 1 Food Hygiene and Safety
What is a level 1 food hygiene certificate?
A level 1 food hygiene certificate shows you’ve completed basic food hygiene training. It’s for people who work around food but don’t handle open food. It covers hazards, allergens, temperature, personal hygiene and cleaning. Some providers call it food safety level 1.
Is level 1 food hygiene a legal requirement in the UK?
No. UK law doesn’t require you to hold a Level 1 certificate. It requires food businesses to make sure staff are supervised and instructed or trained in food hygiene to suit their job. A level 1 food hygiene certificate is a simple way for you and your employer to show that training.
How much does a level 1 food hygiene certificate cost?
Our course costs £10 + VAT. The price includes all five modules, a mock exam, the final exam, unlimited resits and your digital certificate. A printed certificate costs £5.99 extra. Bulk discounts are available if you’re training several staff.
How long does the food hygiene level 1 course take?
About 2 hours 20 minutes. That’s 1 hour 40 minutes of learning, a 20-minute mock exam and a 20-minute final exam. You don’t have to finish in one sitting. Stop and come back whenever it suits you.
How long does a level 1 food hygiene certificate last?
Your certificate doesn’t expire. We recommend a refresher every 3 years, in line with common industry practice. Your employer may ask you to refresh sooner. You should also move up to Level 2 if your job changes and you start handling open food.
Can I do level one food hygiene online?
Yes. This course is 100% online and works on a phone, tablet or laptop. Work through five short modules at your own pace with audio voiceover. Take the final exam online and download your certificate as soon as you pass.
Course Curriculum
| Level 1 Food Hygiene and Safety | |||
| Introduction to Food Hygiene Legislation and Food-borne Illness | 00:15:00 | ||
| Types of Food Safety Hazards | 00:30:00 | ||
| Hazard Control Measures and Refrigeration | 00:25:00 | ||
| Food Handlers Personal Hygiene | 00:13:00 | ||
| Cleaning and Disinfection | 00:17:00 | ||
| Mock Exam | |||
| Mock Exam – Level 1 Food Hygiene and Safety | 00:20:00 | ||
| Final Exam | |||
| Final Exam – Level 1 Food Hygiene and Safety | 00:20:00 | ||
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