Food hygiene training for new staff, with certificate

The quick food hygiene course for new starters in cafés, restaurants, bars and food shops. Each person learns on their phone in about 30 minutes and downloads a certificate with a QR code as soon as they pass. It covers UK temperatures, the 14 allergens, Natasha's Law and hygiene ratings, for €9.50.

Yes: Gesthos's online food hygiene course covers the food handler training required by the Food Hygiene Regulations (retained Regulation 852/2004, Annex II, Chapter XII). Studying and the test are free; the certificate costs €9.50 and you only pay if you pass.

€9.50(≈ £8, charged in euros)

Start the course for €9.50★ 5.0 on Google · 11/2026

Reviewed by , head of training ·

How it works

  1. 1

    Read 10 short modules on your phone or computer

  2. 2

    Pass the multiple-choice test

  3. 3

    Pay €9.50 and download your certificate with a QR code

What your certificate and card look like

You get both as a PDF as soon as you pass: the certificate to print and a pocket card for your phone, each with a QR code anyone can scan to check it is genuine.

Certificate (sample with example data)
Certificate (sample with example data)
Pocket card for your phone (sample)
Pocket card for your phone (sample)

For employers: food hygiene training for staff and new starters

The law asks you to make sure every food handler is supervised and instructed or trained in food hygiene for their job, from their first shift. This course is that first step: each new starter takes it on their phone with their own email in about 30 minutes, before or during their first days, and you keep the certificate, or its QR link, with your training records.

It costs €9.50 per person (about £8, charged in euros), paid only when they pass. It is a certificate of completion, not a Level 2 award: if a client contract or your own policy asks for Level 2 by name, use it for induction and add the Level 2 course later.

It also helps you keep track of who has been trained and when: every certificate shows the employee's name and the date they passed, and its QR code can be checked online at any time, for example during an inspection. Need an invoice in your business's name? At checkout you can add your company name and VAT number, and the invoice is issued automatically; for larger orders, write to info@gesthos.com.

England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each have their own food hygiene regulations, all based on the same retained Regulation (EC) 852/2004, and the training duty is the same in all four. The course uses the temperatures in the Food Standards Agency guidance for England; in Scotland, Food Standards Scotland gives its own advice on chilling, so check it if you work there.

What it coversThe food hygiene training UK law expects for food handlers in catering and retail: contamination, bacteria, safe storage and cooking, personal hygiene, cleaning, HACCP records, the 14 allergens, Natasha's Law and the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme. Your employer can check the certificate by its QR code.
What it is notIt is a certificate of completion, not a regulated qualification or award, and no public body has endorsed it. It does not replace the supervision your employer must give you at work, or the HACCP and supervisor training for the people who run the business's food safety system.
Which lawRetained Regulation (EC) 852/2004, Annex II, Chapter XII, applied by the Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013, the Food Hygiene (Scotland) Regulations 2006, the Food Hygiene (Wales) Regulations 2006 and the Food Hygiene Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006: food handlers must be supervised and instructed or trained in food hygiene to match their work.

Official sources

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Frequently asked questions

Do I need a food hygiene certificate to work with food in the UK?

No law asks for a certificate. The law says you must be supervised and trained for your job. Most employers ask for a certificate to prove that training took place.

Can employers use it for new starters?

Yes, that is what it is made for. Each new starter takes it with their own email, before or in their first days, and you keep the certificate or its QR link with your training records. You still have to supervise them at work, as the law asks.

Is this a Level 2 qualification?

No. It is a certificate of completion of food hygiene training, not a regulated qualification. If your employer asks for a specific regulated award, check with them first.

How long does it take?

About 30 minutes of reading and a short test. You can stop and come back at any time.

Why does it only cost €9.50?

Because everything is online: no classroom and no trainer on site. The course and the test are free, and you only pay if you pass and want the certificate. The price includes VAT. The content covers what UK food hygiene law expects food handlers to know.

How long is the certificate valid?

There is no legal expiry date. We recommend a refresher every 3 years, or sooner if your job changes.

Who checks food hygiene training in the UK?

Environmental health officers from your local council, who also give the food hygiene rating. They can ask how staff have been trained and supervised. Keep your certificate, or the QR link to it, with your employer's training records so you can show it on the day.

What does the certificate show and how can my employer check it?

It shows your full name, the course title, the date you passed, the topics covered and a unique number. It also has a QR code: your employer or an inspector scans it and sees on gesthos.com that the certificate exists and who it belongs to. You get it as a PDF to print or keep on your phone, together with a pocket card.

What happens if I fail the test?

Nothing, and it costs nothing. The course and the test are free, so you can read the module you got wrong and try again as many times as you need. You only pay the €9.50 for the certificate once you have passed, and you download it straight away.

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