RSPH Level 2 Food Safety and Hygiene (Ofqual Regulated)
RSPH Level 2 Food Safety & Hygiene — Ofqual Accredited
Ofqual-regulated RSPH Level 2 Award in Food Safety and Hygiene — delivered by Kitchen Tonic as an RSPH-registered training centre via live webinar, in-house at your premises, or scheduled public classroom course. Assessed by 30-question multiple-choice exam (pass mark 20 out of 30) supplied and marked by RSPH.
Recognised by Environmental Health Officers nationwide. Looking for instant online training instead? See the self-paced KitchenTonic online course (not Ofqual regulated).
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The RSPH Level 2 Award in Food Safety and Hygiene is the Ofqual-regulated qualification (603/2395/4) every UK food handler is expected to hold. Delivered by Kitchen Tonic as an RSPH-registered training centre via live webinar, in-house at your premises, or as a scheduled public classroom course. Covers food safety law, HACCP principles, allergen management, temperature control, cleaning and personal hygiene — assessed by RSPH-supplied 30-question exam (pass mark 20/30). Recognised by Environmental Health Officers nationwide.
Unlimited Fines
for non-compliance under the Food Safety Act 1990
BSc (Hons) Food Scientist
lead trainer & RSPH Centre Manager
Rating of 5
training mapped to EHO inspection criteria
Choose your format
Self-paced · £15
KitchenTonic Certified
Live webinar, classroom or in-house · from £45
Ofqual-regulated qualification
What You Will Learn
- Food safety procedures and safe food handling behaviour
- The 4 types of food safety hazards: physical, chemical, microbial, and allergenic
- Key bacteria including Salmonella, E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Norovirus
- The 14 allergens and why allergen management saves lives
- Your legal responsibilities under the Food Safety Act 1990
- Effective personal hygiene and handwashing techniques
- Cleaning, disinfection, and the 6-step cleaning method
- Pest control measures and how to spot pest activity
- Temperature control: the danger zone, cooking, cooling, reheating, and hot holding
- Stock control, FIFO, and understanding use-by and best-before dates
Who Is This Course For?
This course is designed for anyone who handles food in a catering environment. Whether you are starting your first kitchen job or refreshing your knowledge, this qualification demonstrates your commitment to food safety.
- Chefs, cooks, and kitchen assistants
- Front-of-house staff who serve or handle food
- Café, pub, and takeaway workers
- Food delivery and catering event staff
- Anyone starting a new food business
Why Choose This Course?
- Legal requirement — UK law requires food handlers to be trained to a level appropriate to their role
- Boost your Food Hygiene Rating — trained staff contribute towards achieving a Food Hygiene Rating of 5
- Protect your customers — learn how to prevent the food safety failures that cause illness and business closures
- Instant certificate — pass the assessment and download your certificate immediately
- Flexible learning — complete online in 2–3 hours, or book instructor-led training for your team
- Includes 12 FSA video demonstrations — real-world food safety in action, not just theory
Supervisors and managers are recommended to study at Levels 3 and 4 in Food Safety.
Course Syllabus & Accreditation
Download PDFRSPH Syllabus — Learning Outcomes
Taken from the official RSPH specification (603/2395/4) and apply to the on-site, webinar and in-house delivery of this course.
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.
Essential Food Safety Knowledge
The legal minimum every food handler in the UK must know.
Under the Food Safety Act 1990, every person who handles food must be trained to a level appropriate to their role. This Level 2 course covers the core knowledge that Environmental Health Officers expect every food handler to demonstrate.
Temperature Control Mastery
The danger zone (5°C–63°C) is where bacteria multiply rapidly. This course teaches you the critical temperatures for cooking (75°C for 30 seconds), hot holding (63°C minimum), chilled storage (8°C or below), and frozen storage (−18°C or colder) — plus the 4-hour and 2-hour display rules.
Cleaning and Disinfection
A visually clean surface can still harbour thousands of bacteria. Learn the 6-step cleaning and disinfection method, the difference between detergents, disinfectants, and sanitisers, and why contact time is critical. Includes FSA video demonstrations.
Allergen Management
Allergen failures have caused deaths in the UK. This course covers all 14 legally declared allergens, Natasha's Law requirements, cross-contact prevention, and your duty to communicate allergen information accurately to every customer.
What You Will Learn
Complete Level 2 food safety checklist
This course covers every topic in the Level 2 Award in Food Safety and Hygiene syllabus. Each module includes FSA video content to bring the theory to life with real-world examples.
Designed by a BSc (Hons) Food Scientist Who Has Trained EHOs
This course was developed by a degree-qualified Food Scientist and RSPH Centre Manager with over 15 years of experience in the food industry. The content is mapped directly to what Environmental Health Officers check during inspections — so you learn exactly what matters.
Trusted by Hundreds of UK Food Businesses
Kitchen Tonic has helped restaurants, cafés, pubs, and takeaways across the UK achieve and maintain 5-star Food Hygiene Ratings. Our training is practical, engaging, and built around real EHO inspection criteria — not textbook theory.
Untrained staff are the number one reason businesses lose marks at inspection. This course gives your team the knowledge they need.
Protect Your Business. Train Your Team Today.
Level 2 food safety training is a legal requirement for food handlers. Train online in 2–3 hours, book a live webinar, or request on-site training at your premises.
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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.