Level 2 Food Hygiene & Safety for Catering

Duration 2-3 hours

Last audited 8th July 2024

CPD Approved RoSPA Approved IoH Approved
Level 2 Food Hygiene and Safety for Catering
For me
For teams
  • 100% online training

  • Start when you like

  • Learn on any device (desktop, mobile or tablet)

  • Instant assessment and result

  • 1 learner per course

  • Train teams of all sizes

  • Bulk discounts starting at 10% off 10 courses

  • Pay by invoice with 30 day payment terms available (5+ courses)

£20 +VAT

include vat

Includes a 10% discount for 10+ courses

By law, all food handlers must have an understanding of the principles of food hygiene and know how to work safely so as to protect the food they serve from contamination. This Level 2 Food Hygiene and Safety course is suitable for anyone who handles, prepares or serves food in the catering industry.

This level 2 course will inform you of your legal responsibilities and what constitutes best practice in regards to controlling food safety hazards, controlling temperatures, food storage, food preparation, personal hygiene and premises cleaning. You will learn about your responsibilities through a range of interactive exercises, written text, and video content. 

Upon completion of this training, you will be confident in your food hygiene knowledge and have all the skills and tools you need to keep people safe and comply with food hygiene law.

100% online training

Access anywhere

Same day digital certificate

Printed certificate posted next working day

Full audio voiceover

Assessment retakes at no extra cost

Matches RSPH and CIEH level 2 syllabus

Meets UK and EU legal requirements for food handlers

Accepted by Local Authorities

Accredited by CPD, assured by RoSPA Qualifications and endorsed by the Institute of Hospitality

EHO approved training

Bulk discount for orders of 10+ courses

Fuel for learning

High Speed Training is proud to be working in partnership with Magic Breakfast to ensure that no child is too hungry to learn and thrive.

Magic Breakfast works with schools within high levels of disadvantage to offer students a free, nutritious breakfast and ensure they start their day the right way.

With every Level 2 Food Hygiene for Catering course we sell we’ll donate the cost of a breakfast to enable Magic Breakfast to provide food that is stigma free and open to all.

What you'll learn

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

  • Recognise the consequences of poor food hygiene and safety and the principles of food safety management systems.
  • Explain your own and others’ responsibilities for food hygiene and safety in line with food safety law.
  • Identify food safety hazards and recognise how to prevent contamination of food.
  • Explain safe food preparation and storage practices.
  • Outline the importance of personal hygiene, effective cleaning practices and pest control.

Training you can trust

Looking for more information around food hygiene certificate renewal dates? View our guidance and explanation of food hygiene certificate renewals.

Course in action

Why take this course?

Over 2 million cases of foodborne illness occur in the UK every year. The risk of illnesses from food increases when workers involved in the preparation, handling and serving of food do not have the information or training necessary to enable them to work safely and hygienically.

Food businesses have a legal responsibility to protect consumers from food that is damaging to health, from receiving food that is not of the nature, substance or quality which consumers expect and from food that is labelled, advertised and presented in a way that is false or misleading. Failure to comply with your duties and responsibilities as a food business may result in action being taken against you by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) or other enforcement agencies. Level 3 Food Hygiene in Catering training would be more appropriate for food business owners, managers and supervisory staff. This Level 2 course is more suitable for staff in non-senior roles.

Employees involved in the preparation, handling and serving of food can be at risk of causing foodborne illnesses if the risks are not managed effectively. Food businesses must provide employees with information, instruction and training suitable to the work that they are carrying out. This will ensure that they understand the food safety legislation and practices in place, helping to protect the health and safety of themselves and others. By taking our Food Safety & Hygiene Level 2 for Catering course, employees will learn about food hygiene and the law, helping them to recognise and work towards best practice principles. The course will explain responsibilities, how to prepare, handle, store and serve food safely, as well as how to maintain high standards of food hygiene.

  • Course Content
  • Assessment
  • Suitable for

Module 1: Food Hygiene and Safety

This module outlines your responsibilities and the actions you must take to ensure you comply with food safety law. It explains what you can expect from your employer, HACCP and the purpose of food safety management systems and the role of enforcement officers.

Module 2: Microbial Hazards

This module covers the various microbial hazards you may encounter in food handling and how to prevent them. It also explains how to prevent cross-contamination and the differences between low-risk and high-risk foods.

Module 3: Physical, Chemical and Allergenic Hazards

This module details physical, chemical and allergenic hazards, the risks they pose to food safety and the ways in which you can prevent contamination from occurring.

Module 4: Food Storage

This module explains the importance of storing foods at the correct temperatures. It covers deliveries, how to correctly store different types of food, best before and use-by dates, stock rotation systems and food labelling requirements.

Module 5: Food Preparation

This module explains how to safely prepare food, including proper thawing, cooking and reheating methods. It also covers safe practices for hot and cold holding and managing hazards during food service.

Module 6: Personal Hygiene

This module highlights the importance of maintaining high personal hygiene standards. It includes the importance of effective hand washing procedures, protective clothing, reporting illness and managing wounds and sores.

Module 7: Cleaning and Disinfection

This module highlights the importance of effective cleaning and disinfection. It explores how premises design can affect food safety, how to identify and control pests and the correct waste management procedures.

The online assessment is taken on completion of the training material. 

You will be asked 30 multiple choice questions with a pass mark of 80%. 

The answers are marked automatically so you will instantly know whether you have passed. If you don't pass don't worry - you can take the test as many times as you need with no extra charge.


The European Union Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 on the hygiene of foodstuffs requires all food handlers to be appropriately trained in how to carry out their roles safely.

This Level 2 Food Hygiene and Safety for Catering course ensures that you comply with this legal responsibility by providing learners with a thorough introduction to the correct food handling practices.

The course is suitable for food handlers in all disciplines of the catering sector, including restaurants, hotels, cafes, bars, fast-food outlets, takeaways, mobile food trucks, kitchens, hospitals, schools and colleges.

This certified online training is ideal for people working in positions such as, but not limited to:

  • Chef / Cook
  • Bartender / Front of House Worker
  • Catering / Kitchen Assistant
  • Teacher
  • Support / Care / Charity Worker
  • Barista
  • Child Minder / Nursery Staff

If you are a manager or supervisor in any of the above sectors, then our Level 3 Food Hygiene & Safety In Catering Course is more suitable for you.


Unsure which Food Hygiene course is right for you?

  • Use our course selector to find the most appropriate training for your needs.

Written by experts

Paul Turner, Senior Environmental Health Officer

In partnership with

Paul Turner

Senior Environmental Health Officer

Paul Turner is a Senior Environmental Health Officer at North Yorkshire Council with a great passion for the highest standards of food safety. As well as holding a degree in Environmental Health and a HND in Applied Science (Biology) Paul has completed the following: Certificate of Registration with Environmental Health Officers Registration Board, Assessment of Professional Competence (CPD), ISO 9000:2000 Lead Auditor qualification and has Chartered status from CIEH.

Paul has 30 years of experience in the sector working for local authorities and is on the Food Standards Agency’s (FSA) working group and is a Local Authority member of the FSA group contributing to their Register a Food Business (RAFB) service.

Paul is an experienced public speaker on food safety who has developed and delivered training on behalf of the Food Standards Agency and others in the sector as he continues his drive to ensure the highest standards of food safety.

My team like the interactivity and constant check of knowledge. This is great as a number of our staff have different learning styles.

Isha Hussain

Regional Manager at The Caramel Tart Company

Course reviews

Magic Breakfast

We work with the charity Magic Breakfast (Charity No. 1102510, Scottish Charity No. SC048202) to help provide healthy, nutritious breakfasts to school children in disadvantaged areas of the UK. For every Food Hygiene and Safety Level 2 course sold from 1st December 2023 to 30th November 2024, High Speed Training will donate £0.28 to Magic Breakfast to support their work and fund the equivalent of one breakfast for one child.