Hygiene Certificate

[cliffy72]

Do you need a hygiene certificate if you are preparing food to give to homeless people. Our church does this once a month and we have been told that we will have to pay to go on a course to get one.

[BlackadderV]

Then may Almighty God have mercy on the poor, hungry and homeless, because you will get short shrift from HM's jobsworths.

[Dizmo]

I'm shocked that the Church (or the committee who run the service) aren't willing to pay for the volunteers to go on the course. You'll find also that most 'large' local training providers will waiver the fee of the course and just charge for the certificate on completion.

http://www.saferfoodhandler.co.uk/ do an online food hygiene course - if you've done your food hygiene, catering and manufacturing (levels 2, 3 and 4) in the past then you can pass the online course in a little as 30 minutes. The certificate (if I remember correctly, from Saferfoodhandler.co.uk, the certificate can be printed and used to prove that you are qualified). Their level 2 is only £12 and is a Accredited Certificate.

[BlackadderV]

What is the difference between a certificate and an accredited certificate?

This is the first thread to have really angered me. What price charity/ kindness from volunteers? Do you think that the hungry or homeless give a toss about whether the cook has a hygiene certificate or not?

[pastafreak]

Blackadder...I spend three days a week working for a charity,and cooking for,and feeding "the poor,hungry and homeless". As far as I'm concerned they deserve the same protection as you or I do when we eat anywhere other than a private home. They do not get short shrift as you call it. You can volunteer in our kitchen...wash dishes,serve food. But you'll need a food hygiene certificate if you want to cook...paid,or volunteer.

[BlackadderV]

I'm clearly in a minority of one so shall refrain from further comment. Be it on your consciences when you next read about someone starving to death because of a lack of a hygiene certificate.

[pastafreak]

Oh,stop exaggerating about something you clearly know little about.

[Dizmo]

BlackadderV: oh heck! I don't think the difference between the two really matters which regards to this 'qualification'. As long as the syllabus covers all that is required in a food hygiene course and is completed then I personally don't think it matters who has 'accredited' it or not. Then again, who decides who are the 'accredited' companies? the FSA?

I wouldn't of really been able to comment had I not been involved in volunteering last year but now I have, I think I can safely say the following.

Some people, in this case we are referring to the homeless, do care who has prepared and cooked their meals for them - some do not. It all boils (no pun intended) down, in my opinion, to how grateful these people are. Some of these people are forced (not physically) to scavenge through bins for left overs and drink rain water that has collected in crisp bags and styrofoam food containers.

This has been mentioned by someone else on this thread - apologies for not remember who; it really doesn't matter if you have a certificate, accredited or otherwise, or not if you're not actually going to follow the rules. I was the only person in the food kitchen who has an in date level 3 food hygiene certificate. 4 out of 5 people in the kitchen followed a basic level of hygiene and even knew that certain food was to be prepared in specific areas and on coloured chopping boards. I was very impressed - not that impressed though as 9/10 of know the basic food safety/hygiene rules.

[Dizmo]

I'd also say that it would be extremely unfair to suggest that someone without a qualification in food hygiene are unsuitable to be in, around or involved in food (and drink as in certain establishments it is also classed as food) food preparation, cooking and serving.

[BlackadderV]

I bet Aunt Bessie never had a hygiene certificate, nor did she wear latex gloves when scooping out a handful of flour to make her Yorkies.

[Retrochic]

Blackadder you are not in the minority -If I was starving on the street and offered a good square meal I really would not care a F it the person cooking it had a hygiene certificate -its called being grateful. I haven't a hygiene certificate and have not poisoned anyone yet after over 40 years of cooking for people lol!"

[BlackadderV]

At last a voice of reason.

[-Talbot-]

I thought bovine spongiform encephalopathy was all sorted but it seems ........The foodies have gone mad tonight!

[Maydup]

I don't care how desperate people are for a meal, they live in 2015 and not 1815.

[-Talbot-]

What like not having a certificate?