RSPH Level 2 Food Safety and Hygiene (Ofqual Regulated)
RSPH Level 2 Food Safety & Hygiene Training for Catering
Accredited food safety training for catering and hospitality professionals, delivered on-site at your premises or via live webinar. Ofqual-regulated and VAT exempt.
The RSPH Level 2 Award in Food Safety and Hygiene is the Ofqual-regulated qualification (603/2395/4) for chefs, cooks, kitchen staff and food handlers who prepare, cook or serve food in UK food businesses.
Recognised by Environmental Health Officers, employers and insurers as the standard evidence of regulated food hygiene training.
Last updated:
Stay out of court
Food Safety Act 1990 — fines have no upper limit
Taught by Our Kitchen Tonic Centre Manager
BSc (Hons) Nutrition, Biology & Dietetics · 16+ years training UK food teams
Reach a Food Hygiene Rating of 5
Training mapped to live EHO inspection criteria
Who is RSPH Level 2 Food Safety (Catering) for?
Every hands-on food handler in a catering or hospitality operation — anyone preparing, cooking, plating or serving open food. This is the Ofqual-regulated Level 2 award (603/2395/4) that Environmental Health Officers expect each food handler to hold, and that insurers and primary authorities reference when reviewing your food safety management system.
- Chefs, sous chefs and line cooks
- Kitchen assistants and commis chefs
- Front-of-house staff who plate or serve open food
- Deli, sandwich and salad-bar preparers
- Baristas serving food alongside drinks
- Contract caterers, school and care-home cooks
What you’ll learn
The official RSPH syllabus (603/2395/4) is structured around 1 unit that you will be examined on. The headlines:
- 1. Understand food safety hazards
- 2. Understand how to control food safety hazards
The full learning outcome references for each unit appear in the Syllabus & Accreditation section below.
Accreditation
This qualification is the RSPH Level 2 Award in Food Safety and Hygiene, awarded by the Royal Society for Public Health and Ofqual-regulated under qualification number 603/2395/4. Kitchen Tonic delivers it as an RSPH-approved training centre; the synoptic examination is set, supplied and marked by RSPH and the certificate is issued directly by RSPH.
Awarding body
RSPH
Royal Society for Public Health
Ofqual number
603/2395/4
Regulated qualification
Learning hours
6 GLH · 8 TQT
Guided · Total time
Recognised by Environmental Health Officers, primary authorities, BRCGS and SALSA auditors, third-party certification bodies and insurers as evidence of senior-manager-level food safety competence.
Prerequisites & entry requirements
RSPH recommended prior learning
None. Valid official photo ID is required on the exam day.
Kitchen Tonic — no paid risk
None. Valid official ID required on exam day.
Delivery & pricing at a glance
RSPH Level 2 Food Safety (Catering) is the same Ofqual-regulated qualification (603/2395/4) however it is delivered. Kitchen Tonic offers it as a live webinar, a scheduled public classroom course and as in-house training at your premises — six guided learning hours plus the 40-minute, 30-question RSPH MCQ exam in the same day.
Live Webinar
£45
per person
- 1 training day, 09:30–16:00 on Google Meet
- Max 5 candidates
- Same-day MCQ exam after the final session
- Paper MCQ at our Clapham Junction venue (webinar default, included), or RSPH e-assessment online (+£49/candidate); paper-based at our centre or your site for public/in-house
Public Course
£45
per person
- 1 training day, 09:30–16:00 at our London venue
- Max 20 candidates per course
- Same-day MCQ exam after the final session
- Paper MCQ at our Clapham Junction venue (webinar default, included), or RSPH e-assessment online (+£49/candidate); paper-based at our centre or your site for public/in-house
In-house
From
£250
+ £25 per additional learner
- 1 training day at your premises, dates by arrangement
- Your team — group sizes by quote
- Same-day MCQ exam after the final session
- Exam at your premises (included)
Ofqual-regulated RSPH certificate issued direct from the Royal Society for Public Health for every delivery mode.
Next available courses
Webinar
Public webinar course · 10am–4:30pm
Start date
18 Jun
- Day 1 of 1Thu 18 Jun
Start date
2 Jul
- Day 1 of 1Thu 2 Jul
Course Syllabus & Accreditation
Download PDFOfficial course syllabus · Expert-led, Ofqual-aligned food safety training trusted by UK hospitality and manufacturing teams.
RSPH Syllabus — Learning Outcomes
1. Understand food safety hazards
- 1.1 Contamination and cross-contamination hazards to food safety
- 1.2 How contamination of food can cause illness or injury
- 1.3 The importance of personal hygiene and behaviour to food safety
- 1.4 The legal responsibilities of food handlers and food business operators
2. Understand how to control food safety hazards
- 2.1.1 Preventing or minimising the risk of cross contamination
- 2.1.2 Temperature control
- 2.1.3 Dealing with stock and deliveries to customers
- 2.1.4 Work flow, work surfaces and equipment
- 2.1.5 Keeping the work area and equipment clean and tidy
- 2.1.6 Dealing with hazards and potential hazards
- 2.1.7 Food spoilage and waste
- 2.1.8 Pest prevention
Assessment
40-minute multiple-choice examination set by RSPH — 30 questions, 20 correct required to pass.
Grading
Pass / fail. A pass is 20 out of 30 correct answers.
Entry requirements
None. Valid official photo ID is required on the exam day.
How the Course Actually Runs
One training day, a same-day MCQ exam, and a clear no-risk entry route.
Daily Schedule: 1 Training Day, 6 Guided Learning Hours
A single training day — six guided learning hours covering hazards, temperature control, cleaning and disinfection, allergens and personal hygiene, with the RSPH MCQ exam sat the same day. Hours and break timings flex slightly between delivery modes.
- Webinar: Live on Google Meet, one full training day at a scheduled course start time — interactive, with a maximum group size so questions get answered.
- Public course: Classroom-based at our central London venue on a scheduled course date — small group, same single-day format.
- In-house: At your restaurant, kitchen or catering site — date, start time and group size arranged around your service.
Exam: 30-Question MCQ, Same Day, Marked by RSPH
A 40-minute, 30-question multiple-choice paper sat at the end of the training day. Pass mark is 20 out of 30. Papers are taken on official RSPH materials, marked by RSPH, with the Ofqual-regulated certificate issued on successful completion.
- Paper exam at Clapham Junction (webinar default — included): Webinar candidates sit a paper-based MCQ on official RSPH booklets at our Clapham Junction venue, typically the morning after the final webinar day. Included in the £45 webinar fee.
- RSPH e-assessment online (webinar upgrade — +£49 per candidate): If travelling to Clapham Junction is not feasible, webinar candidates can upgrade to the RSPH online e-assessment, sat remotely under live invigilation through RSPH’s secure portal. Add £49 per candidate.
- In person at our centre or your site: Paper-based MCQ exam invigilated either at our London training centre on public course days, or at your premises immediately after in-house training.
No-Risk Entry Route
No prerequisites — Level 2 is the foundational food handler qualification, open to any team member who handles food. Webinar and public course seats are £45 per person (paper exam at Clapham Junction included; RSPH e-assessment upgrade +£49 per candidate). In-house is £250 for the day plus £25 per extra learner. If a booked date no longer works, we transfer your seat or group at no charge.
What is included
Everything you get with RSPH Level 2 Food Safety (Catering)
The Ofqual-regulated qualification (603/2395/4) is delivered by Kitchen Tonic as an RSPH-registered training centre, with the official RSPH MCQ examination. Designed for hands-on food handlers across restaurants, hotels, contract catering, deli and retail food, schools and care homes.
Included with every delivery format (Webinar · Public course · In-house)
Webinar (live online course)
Public course (classroom-based)
In-house at your site
Delivered by Our Kitchen Tonic Centre Manager — BSc (Hons) Nutrition, Biology & Dietetics
Your tutor holds a BSc (Hons) in Food Science and manages Kitchen Tonic as an RSPH-registered training centre, with 16+ years delivering accredited food safety training across UK hospitality and catering. She regularly works alongside Environmental Health Officers on inspection follow-up and rating-recovery work, so the day is mapped to what EHOs actually check on the ground.
Trusted by UK kitchen and catering teams
Kitchen Tonic delivers Level 2 (Catering) to chefs, kitchen assistants, contract caterers, hotel kitchens, school and care-home cooks and front-of-house teams who serve open food. The group sits the MCQ on the same day, so certificates are in the pipeline before everyone heads back to service.
Untrained food handlers are one of the fastest ways to lose marks on the confidence-in-management pillar of your Food Hygiene Rating — Level 2 evidences that every handler on your team is trained to role.
About the Trainer
Kitchen Tonic Centre Manager & Lead Food Safety Trainer
BSc (Hons) Nutrition, Biology & Dietetics · Kitchen Tonic Centre Manager · International food safety auditor (retail and manufacturing) · 16+ years
Kitchen Tonic training is delivered by our degree-qualified Centre Manager — BSc (Hons) Nutrition, Biology & Dietetics — who runs Kitchen Tonic as an RSPH-approved training centre, has 16+ years delivering accredited food safety training across UK hospitality, catering and manufacturing, and works as an international food safety auditor for retail and manufacturing clients. Course content is mapped to what Environmental Health Officers, BRCGS and SALSA auditors actually check on inspection — not textbook theory.
- BSc (Hons) Nutrition, Biology & Dietetics
- Kitchen Tonic Centre Manager (RSPH-approved training centre)
- International food safety auditor (retail and manufacturing clients)
- Has trained Environmental Health Officers active in UK inspections
- 16+ years delivering accredited Level 2, 3 and 4 food safety training
Ready to book RSPH Level 2 Food Safety (Catering)?
One training day delivered as a live webinar (£45/person), a scheduled public course at our London venue (£45/person), or in-house at your site (£250 + £25 per extra learner). Same Ofqual-regulated certificate, same MCQ exam, same trainer.
Enquire or book a date
Frequently Asked Questions
Level 2 Food Safety and Hygiene: Common Questions
What is the RSPH Level 2 Food Safety and Hygiene qualification?
RSPH Level 2 Food Safety and Hygiene is an Ofqual-regulated qualification (number 603/2395/4) issued by the Royal Society for Public Health. It is the standard food hygiene qualification UK Environmental Health Officers expect for anyone who prepares or serves food in a regulated food business.
Is RSPH Level 2 food hygiene a legal requirement in the UK?
UK food safety law does not name a specific qualification, but Retained Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 requires every food handler to be trained, instructed or supervised to a level appropriate to their role. The RSPH Level 2 qualification is the most widely accepted Ofqual-regulated certificate for demonstrating compliance, and is what most EHOs and insurers expect to see.
How is the RSPH Level 2 course delivered?
Kitchen Tonic delivers the RSPH Level 2 course in three formats: a single-day live webinar, an in-house training session at your premises, or a scheduled public classroom course. All three formats are around 6 guided learning hours and finish with the official RSPH-supplied 30-question multiple-choice exam.
What does the RSPH Level 2 syllabus cover?
The official RSPH specification covers food safety law and your legal responsibilities, the 4 hazard types (microbial, chemical, physical, allergenic), the 14 declarable allergens and Natashas Law, the temperature danger zone, cooking and chilling, the 6-step cleaning method, pest control, illness reporting and personal hygiene.
Is the RSPH certificate recognised by Environmental Health Officers?
Yes. The certificate is Ofqual-regulated and issued directly by the Royal Society for Public Health. It is recognised by Environmental Health Officers across the UK and accepted by employers, insurers and regulators as evidence of regulated food hygiene training.
How long is the RSPH Level 2 certificate valid for?
There is no statutory expiry date for food hygiene training in the UK, but the Food Standards Agency and most EHOs recommend refresher training every 3 years.
Is there an online version of this course?
Yes — Kitchen Tonic also offers a self-paced online Level 2 Food Safety course. That is a separate product (KitchenTonic Certified, not Ofqual-regulated) designed for fast, flexible learning. If your employer or EHO specifically requires an Ofqual/RSPH qualification, the live RSPH course on this page is the right choice.
Whats the difference between Level 2 and Level 3 Food Safety?
Level 2 is for food handlers and covers the day-to-day knowledge needed to work safely with food. Level 3 (Supervising Food Safety) is aimed at supervisors, managers and head chefs and goes further into HACCP design, risk assessment, training others and managing food safety culture.