Food Safety UK Level 2 food hygiene review What you get for £12, and who it suits
Last updated 20 October 2026. Course details and price checked on Food Safety UK's own pages on 20 October 2026
Food Safety UK's Level 2 Food Safety and Hygiene for Catering is an online course for anyone working with food in a pub, café, restaurant or other catering business. Here is what you get, what the badges on the page mean, and who it suits.
At £12 including VAT, it is the cheapest online Level 2 course we compare. You get unlimited free resits and a certificate emailed the moment someone passes, and team discounts go up to 40% off. There is no printed certificate, and learners have 90 days to finish. It is not a regulated qualification, so if a contract or tender asks for one, look elsewhere. We haven't taken the course ourselves. This review is based on Food Safety UK's published details.
What's in the course
Food Safety UK says the course is for anyone working in catering or food processing. Nobody needs any experience or qualifications first. It has seven units:
- General food safety and legislation
- Hygiene hazards
- Chilling and cold handling
- Cooking and reheating
- Physical, chemical and allergen hazards
- Safe food storage
- Cleaning and personal hygiene
Each unit has short quizzes that must be done before moving on, then there is a final exam. The course page says it takes about three hours, and the FAQs say three to four. It works on a phone, tablet or computer, and progress is saved, so it can be done in short sittings. Allergens are covered in unit 5, and our guide to allergen training for your team explains what else to cover in your own kitchen.
The pages don't say whether there is an audio voiceover, so ask Food Safety UK if that matters for your team.
The test and resits
The final exam is 30 multiple choice questions, with a pass mark of 80%. If someone doesn't pass, they can resit as many times as they need at no extra cost, as long as it is within their 90 days.
That suits a new starter who is nervous about tests. The price you pay is the price you pay.
The certificate, and what it is and isn't
As soon as someone passes, a certificate is emailed to them as a PDF. Food Safety UK only offers digital certificates, so there is no printed copy in the post, but staff can print the PDF themselves. Course access ends as soon as the exam is passed, so save the email.
The certificate shows the pass date and has no expiry date. Food Safety UK recommends refreshing knowledge every three years, and says some organisations ask for training every year. Each certificate has a unique number that can be checked on Food Safety UK's website.
The course is assured by RoSPA Qualifications and certified by the CPD Certification Service. These show that outside bodies have looked at the course. Food Safety UK's own terms say it is not a formal RQF qualification, which means it isn't a regulated qualification.
The site also says its certificates have been accepted by local authorities across the UK. The law doesn't ask for a particular course or certificate. It asks that staff are trained for the work they do, and that you can show it. So a course like this can be part of the training the law asks for, alongside showing people how things are done in your own kitchen. Our guide to whether a certificate is legally required has the detail.
Buying for a team
Discounts are taken off automatically, based on how many courses are in one order:
- 10 to 49 courses: 10% off
- 50 to 139: 25% off
- 140 to 199: 32% off
- 200 or more: 40% off
Buying for two or more people sets up a group account. A manager gets a free admin account to enrol staff, give each person their own login, and see how far they have got. Orders of more than 10 courses can be paid by bank transfer in advance. Each course is for one named person and can't be passed on.
The 90 day limit matters most here. The clock starts when each learner is registered, so enrol people when they are ready to start. Our guide to buying training for a team covers what else to check.
Cancelling and refunds
Food Safety UK's terms let you cancel within 14 working days of buying, but not once the course has been opened or started. After that, there is no other right to cancel. If you're unsure, ask them before you buy.
Who it suits, and who should look elsewhere
A good fit if:
- keeping costs down comes first
- staff would rather study on their phone
- someone needs a certificate quickly, before their first shift
- you are training a large team and want to track who has finished
Look elsewhere if:
- you want a printed certificate posted out
- you like to buy training well ahead of a start date
- a contract, tender or job advert asks for a regulated qualification
- someone learns best by asking a tutor questions as they go
How it compares
Here it is next to the other four Level 2 courses we compare. Other providers' details were checked between 5 and 20 October 2026, and the full side by side table is on our Level 2 comparison.
Swipe sideways to see the whole table.
| Course | Price per learner, inc. VAT | Test | Free resits | Printed certificate | Regulated qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food Safety UK | £12 | 30 questions, 80% to pass | Unlimited, within 90 days | No, digital only | No |
| Virtual College | £19.20 | 30 questions, 75% to pass | 3 attempts | £4 extra | No |
| High Speed Training | £24 | 30 questions, 80% to pass | Unlimited | Included | No |
| CIEH Foundation Certificate | £35.70 | Not published | Not published | Not published | No |
| Highfield Level 2 Award, via Axtell Food Safety | £170 | 20 questions, 66% to pass | No, about £108 a resit | No | Yes |
Questions people often ask
Is Food Safety UK's Level 2 certificate recognised?
It is assured by RoSPA Qualifications and CPD certified, but it is the provider's own certificate, not a regulated qualification. For most pubs, cafés and restaurants that is fine, because the law asks for suitable training, not a specific certificate.
How long does the certificate last?
It has no expiry date, only a pass date. Food Safety UK recommends refreshing every three years. Our refresher guide explains when sooner makes sense.
Can I get a printed certificate?
Not from Food Safety UK. It only sends a PDF by email, which staff can print themselves.
Can I move a course to another member of staff?
No. Food Safety UK's terms say each course is personal to the learner and can't be transferred, so only buy for people who are definitely starting.
How we checked this
We haven't taken this course. Everything here comes from Food Safety UK's own pages and terms, checked on 20 October 2026, and the official guidance listed below. Prices and details can change, so check the course page before you buy.
Sources we used
- Food Safety UK, Level 2 Food Safety and Hygiene for Catering. Price, units, length, certificate, approvals, team discounts. Checked 20 October 2026.
- Food Safety UK, how it works. Test, pass mark, resits, 90 day access, group sign-up. Checked 20 October 2026.
- Food Safety UK, Level 2 syllabus. The seven units. Checked 20 October 2026.
- Food Safety UK, frequently asked questions. Length, digital certificates only, resits, admin account, discounts. Checked 20 October 2026.
- Food Safety UK, food hygiene certificate expiry. No expiry date, refresher every three years. Checked 20 October 2026.
- Food Safety UK, course approvals. RoSPA and CPD approval. Checked 20 October 2026.
- Food Safety UK, terms and conditions. Cancelling, 90 day access, courses can't be transferred, not an RQF qualification. Checked 20 October 2026.
- GOV.UK, Running a food business: staff training, illness and hygiene. No certificate required; staff must have the right skills and training for their role.
- Our Level 2 comparison, for other providers' prices and details.