What Food Hygiene Certificate Do I Need to Sell Food?
As the country’s leading food hygiene and safety training provider, we often receive queries about which job roles require you to obtain a Food Hygiene Certificate. If you plan to sell food commercially – whether you’re selling food from your own home, selling cakes on a market stall, or opening a food truck business – it’s the law to receive the necessary level of food hygiene training.
What Food Hygiene Certificate Do I Need to Sell Food?
The specific level you need depends on how involved you are in the preparation and handling of food. To help you determine which is right for you, this guide will look at some examples of selling food in places other than restaurants and takeaways. It’ll explain which type of food hygiene training you should acquire and why.
Understanding this is important if you want to sell food legally and safely to the public.
Do I Need a Certificate to Sell Food from Home?
If you’re running a catering business from home. Whether you’re selling pies, cakes, or ready-made dinners – you must know how to safely store, prepare, handle, and distribute the food. Even though you’re cooking at home to sell it, distributing food commercially (such as at a charity event or market) means you’re legally required to ensure it’s safe for consumption. This also means you are subject to EHO inspections.
You need to acquire a Level 2 Food Safety and Hygiene for Catering certificate if you prepare and distribute the food yourself.
Even if you’re selling pre-packaged food from home, it’s still advised that you take Level 2 Food Hygiene training. This is because you need to know important information about preserving the food’s safety and quality before you sell it to customers. Also as well as prove to local authorities that you’re compliant.
Do I Need a Certificate to Sell Food from a Market Stall?
If you’re planning to sell food at a market, you must know how to safely store, prepare, handle, and distribute it. Whether you’re selling cakes on a market stall, selling homemade food at craft fairs, or selling food at a farmer’s market, food safety law requires you to ensure your food is fit for consumption.
You need to acquire a Food Hygiene and Safety Certificate if you prepare and distribute the food yourself. If you’re selling pre-prepared, fresh food (such as ready-to-eat cakes, pies, and other pastries), it’s still advised that you take Level 2 Food Hygiene training. This is because you need to know important information about preserving the food’s safety and quality before you sell it, as well as prove to local authorities that you’re compliant.
Do I Need a Certificate if Setting Up A Food Stall at a Festival?
If you set up a food stall at a festival, you must know how to safely store, prepare, handle, and distribute the food. Food stall vendors are expected to demonstrate this knowledge, and evidence of food hygiene training is an effective way to satisfy legal authorities.
You need to acquire a Food Safety and Hygiene Level 2 certificate if you prepare and distribute the food yourself.
If you’re selling pre-prepared food, it’s still advised that you take Level 2 Food Hygiene training. This is because you need to know important information about preserving the food’s safety and quality before you sell it to customers, as well as prove to authorities that you’re compliant.
Do I Need a Certificate to Sell Food from a Food Truck?
You may be surprised to learn that starting a street food business requires just as much compliance as running a restaurant or takeaway. This includes receiving food hygiene training. When selling street food from a truck, you must know how to safely store, prepare, handle, and distribute it so it’s fit for consumption.
You need to acquire a Food Hygiene and Catering Level 2 certificate if you prepare and distribute the food yourself.
If you’re in a more senior position than a food handler, such as if you run the whole food truck business yourself, you need a higher level of training. Level 3 Supervising Food Safety in Catering will give you the knowledge you need to implement and manage the 7 principals of HACCP plan, which is necessary for running the business long-term.
Wherever you sell food to customers, no matter what type it is, chances are that you’ll need some level of food hygiene training. It’s well worth doing your research and investing in the right training, so you can demonstrate due diligence to local authorities and protect the wellbeing of those who buy your food.
Hopefully, this article has provided you with an understanding of the required Food Hygiene Certificate you will need to serve food. If you’d like more training on food hygiene and safety, The Training Terminal offers an array of courses, simply visit our site www.thetrainingterminal.com.
Hi, I want to start my own ice cream business and serve as well as run the place. Would I need level 2 food hygiene And catering or level 3 or would I need both.
Thanks
Hi Will, for the business you are looking to run a level 2 will suffice. However, if you do expand and look at employing and managing several team members a level 3 would be recommended.
Hi, I am looking to set up soup and sandwich business initially setting up from home. What would I need to do?
Hi Paula, I would certainly start off with obtaining your Level 2 in Food Safety. During this time I would also suggest you make contact with your local authority who will provide you with further information. This will ensure you are 100% compliant based on their requirements.
Hi Paula, I would certainly start with obtaining your Level 2 in Food Safety. I would suggest you contact your local authority during this time, who will provide you with further information. This will ensure you are 100% compliant based on their requirements.
I have a tea room which just sells our home made baking and home made soup. Do I need a food hygiene
Hi Mark, thanks for your enquiry. If you are preparing and serving food for public consumption, you are advised to complete the Level 2 Food Safety Course in Catering. You have a legal obligation to have completed sufficient Food Safety Training. Therefore this is the perfect way to ensure you achieve this.
My son is level 2 at food college here in Birmingham and wants to start baking cakes to sell from home during the lockdown. Is that possible? He has done food and hygiene with the college at the start so will he need to re-do this again for home?
Hi Jacqui, many thanks for your enquiry. We would highly recommend you contact your local authority who will guide you fully through the process along with ensuring you comply fully with their current requirements.
Do I need a certificate to sell ice cream for dogs bought in ready made tubs from wholeseller?
Hi – i want to organise fundraiser in local sports club to raise finds for refurbishment- hoping to have a teaparty with sandwiches cakes buns made by members/wives and friends of the club. The person leading the event has level 2 food certificate. Most food will be made off the premises.
Hi, many thanks for your comments. If the person preparing the food items has a level 2 qualification and is complying with current food safety legislation, they should have no problem preparing and serving the food items you have mentioned. If in doubt, we recommend you consult your local authority for further clarification.
Hello, I am planning to start a sauce business. The sauce will be preserved through canning. I have a food handling certificate already, do I need anymore certificates to be able to sell it online or in person?
Hi Keren, to confirm that if you already have a Food Safety Level 2 Certificate, you will not need another one. However, we highly recommend you contact your local authority for a full breakdown of what is required.
Hi, I am thinking of selling take away teas and coffees from my shop when I re open. Will I need a food hygine certificate? Thank you
Hi Jean, as you will be handling food items, it is always recommended that you complete Food Safety Training. We believe for a couple of hours of your time, it will only benefit you in the eyes of your customers and the local authority.
Hi,
Please could you advise me to apply this food hygiene level 2 training and is it possible to do it online?
thank you very much.
Kind Regards
Giriraj Limbu
Food Hygiene Level 2 can be found here:
https://www.thetrainingterminal.com/food-safety-level-2/
The course is entirely online and will be made available straight after purchase!