How to check your staff really understand their food hygiene training
Your new starter has passed their course and the certificate is in the folder. Job done? Not quite. Here's how to make sure the training has turned into safe habits in your kitchen.
Watch people work, ask them a few simple questions, and do the odd spot check. It only takes a few minutes, and it tells you far more than a certificate can.
How training turns into safe habits
A course is only the first step. The other two happen in your kitchen.
Spot a gap? Go back to step 2 and show them again.
Why a certificate isn't enough
Passing a test shows someone knows the rules. It doesn't show they'll follow them on a busy Friday night. Inspectors know this too, which is why they look at how your team works, not just at certificates.
A simple checklist
Use this as a guide when you watch someone at work. You don't need to do it all at once.
Swipe sideways to see the whole table.
| Area | What good looks like | A question to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Handwashing | Washes hands properly with soap before handling food, after the toilet, and after touching raw meat or bins | "When do you need to wash your hands?" |
| Raw and cooked food | Keeps raw meat away from ready-to-eat food, with separate boards and utensils | "Why do we keep raw chicken away from the salad?" |
| Temperatures | Checks and records fridge and hot food temperatures as your safe methods say | "What temperature should the fridge be?" |
| Allergens | Checks every order for allergies and knows where to find allergen information | "What would you do if a customer said they had a nut allergy?" |
| Cleaning | Cleans as they go and follows the cleaning schedule | "How do you clean this surface after raw meat?" |
| Illness | Knows they must tell you before coming in if they have sickness or diarrhoea | "What should you do if you've had a stomach bug?" |
Asking questions without making it feel like a test
Nobody likes feeling quizzed. Try asking questions naturally during a quiet moment, or as a "what would you do if...?" chat at a team briefing. Most people enjoy showing what they know, and it gives you a chance to fix any gaps kindly.
What if someone gets it wrong?
Don't panic, and don't make a big deal of it. Show them the right way, explain why it matters, and check again in a few days. If the same thing keeps happening, a short refresher on that topic might help. Our guide to refresher training has some cheap and free options.
Write it down
A quick note, such as "watched Ali's handwashing and prep, all good, 3 October", is great evidence that training is working. Add it to your training records.
If your team trained online, our guide to whether online training is good enough explains why checking matters so much. And if someone is brand new, start with our new starter plan.