Are the Food Handler Licence and Food Handler Certificate the same? Find out the difference and other questions of interest in this regard
Let’s start by answering the question: What is the difference between a Food Handler Licence and a Food Handler Certificate? There is no difference.
There is no longer such thing as a Food Handler Licence, it is now known as the Food Handler Certificate.
Upon completion of the relevant training, workers will be awarded the Food Handler Certificate which guarantees that he/she has acquired the necessary knowledge in food safety and hygiene to process and handle food.
Let’s look at some questions of interest with regard to the Food Handler Certificate.
What does Food Handler Training offer?
There are two types of Food Handler Certificates:
Low-Risk Food Handler Certificate
Training delivered to professionals who handle packaged food, there is no direct contact with the food, and the risk of contamination is lower. Nevertheless, they must be up to date with the guidelines and protocols to ensure food safety.
High-Risk Food Handler Certificate
Training delivered to workers who, as part of their jobs, come into direct contact with foodstuff, in the catering industry as well as in factories that prepare and manufacture foodstuffs.
Specific and updated training is delivered to workers according to the industry and functions to be carried out in their professional activity.
Food Handler training offers many professional advantages:
- On a personal level, it improves knowledge and experience in professional activity.
- Greater versatility and plurality of courses on specialised subjects for different industries.
- Improves one’s CV, adding value.
The Food Handler Certificate is a necessary resource to be able to work in a wide variety of industries and positions. Let’s see what they are.
Sectors where the Food Handler Certificate is obligatory
As we have mentioned already, the Food Handler Certificate is a necessary document for people or professional sectors and activities that come into contact with foodstuff.
There are different types of industries with jobs that meet these characteristics:
- Hospitality industry. Hotels, hostels, guesthouses…
- Catering. Bars, restaurants, fast food outlets, buffet…
- Transport. Distributors, couriers, wholesalers…
- Nursery schools and kindergartens.
- Manufacturing Plants.
- Warehouses.
- Home help.
- Geriatrics.
- Brand promoters.
- Meat industry…
A significant percentage of the labour market requires coming into contact with food and, therefore, professionals must hold a Food Handler Certificate.
In view of the foregoing, training in food handling is of the utmost importance to improve workers’ professional profiles, as well as being a compulsory document when it comes to applying for different jobs.