Course and certificate
Level 1 Food Hygiene and Safety
For anyone in a low-risk food job in the UK: front-of-house staff serving wrapped or prepared food, kitchen porters, cleaners and washers-up, bar staff, shop staff handling packaged food, volunteers and new starters. Seven short lessons in plain English cover why food safety matters, your legal duty, hygiene and handwashing, illness, cross-contamination and cleaning, temperatures, allergens, pests and reporting problems, followed by a 20-question test.
- Jurisdiction
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- Languages
- English, Български, Español, Italiano, Polski, Português, Română, Українська
- Lessons
- 7
- Time needed
- About 35 minutes for the lessons and the test
- Assessment
- 20 questions, pass mark 80%
- Refresher
- Recommended after 3 years
- Content updated
- 27 October 2026
- Certificate fee
- £8.00, payable after passing
01Who this course is for
- Front-of-house staff who serve wrapped or ready-prepared food
- Kitchen porters, cleaners and washers-up
- Bar staff and waiters who do not prepare food
- Shop shelf-stackers and checkout staff handling packaged food
- Volunteers at community kitchens, events and charity shops
- New starters who need the basics before a Level 2 course
02Syllabus
03Assessment
20 multiple-choice questions drawn from the whole course. The pass mark is 80%. The test is free and can be retaken as often as needed; wrong answers point to the lesson to read again.
04The certificate
- With your name, your score and the date you passed.
- A unique number, recorded in our register.
- Your employer or an inspector scans it to see that it is genuine.
- Download it, print it or show it on your phone.
05Sources
The course follows the published guidance below. We are not affiliated with the bodies that publish it.
- FSA — Food hygiene for your business
- FSA — Allergen guidance for food businesses
- Regulation (EC) No 852/2004
- NHS — Anaphylaxis
- FSA — Natasha's Law
- Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013
06Questions
Do I need a food hygiene certificate to work with food?
UK law requires food handlers to be supervised and instructed or trained in food hygiene to suit their work. It does not name a particular certificate. Many employers ask for a Level 1 course like this one for low-risk jobs, as evidence of basic training.
Is this certificate accredited?
No. It is a certificate of completion: it shows you finished the course and passed its test. It is not a regulated or accredited qualification, and your employer decides whether this training meets their requirements.
Is Level 1 enough if I prepare or cook food?
Level 1 is an introduction for jobs with little or no food preparation. If you cook or prepare food, your employer will normally expect a higher level, such as our Level 2 course. Your employer must also give you instruction on the rules and risks of your own workplace.
How long does it take?
Most people finish the lessons and the 20-question test in about 40 minutes. You can stop and come back at any time on the same device.
What if I fail the test?
Nothing is charged. You see which lessons to read again and can retake the test as often as you need.
When do I pay, and how much?
Only after you pass: £8 for the certificate. The course and the test are free.
How does my employer check the certificate?
Every certificate has a number and a QR code. Scanning it, or entering the number on our check page, shows your name, the course and the date you passed.
How long is the certificate valid?
The law sets no expiry date. Refresher training every three years is common practice, so the certificate shows a renewal date three years after you pass.
The certificate confirms that you completed this course and passed its test. It is not a regulated or accredited qualification; your employer decides whether this training meets their requirements.