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]

I don't think the Good Lord needed one when dishing out the loaves and fishes. My response to any question of this nature is, "If it was good enough for Jesus it's good enough for me."

[RATTER15]

Yes, I'm fairly sure you will need one if preparing food.

[joggerjayne]

I can't see that helping the homeless (for free?) would be classed as a "food business". Isn't it just food businesses that need an FHC ?

[pastafreak]

I would imagine yes. It doesn't matter who the clients are, if you are serving food its still necessary that you meet food safety standards.
If you look online,its possible to do a basic course for £10.

[boxtops]

I believe you will, you are preparing food for the public (albeit homeless public).

[RATTER15]

I think anybody handling food need to have one, I need one working in a care home.

[boxtops]

This is from a specific council, and seems to agree, yes you do http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/myservices/business/food-safety/Pages/food-business-registration.aspx

[BlackadderV]

A tramp knocks on a door and says, "Sorry to bother you, ma'am, but you couldn't spare me a cup of tea and a sandwich, could you? I haven't eaten in two days."

Lady replies, "Sorry, but my hygiene certificate has expired. No can do."

If this is indeed the law then it is testicles writ large in bold capitals.

[boxtops]

Different circumstance, blackadder!

[237SJ]

If you are preparing food then yes, if you are serving food then no.

[pastafreak]

No its not Blackadder. The law exists to protect both the client/customer,and those preparing/serving food What protection is there if those preparing food do not follow good practice and someone becomes ill?

[BlackadderV]

What the hell is a hygiene certificate in any case? What does it prove? Sod all in my book, except that the recipient has been conned into paying money to the council to show that they need to wash their hand after going to the toilet. It makes me weep to think that the unfortunate may deprived of help because of little pettifogging 'elf'safety regulations.If the law states this then at least it should be at no cost to the volunteer.

[Sir Alec]

When I did it, the course only took one day. I was on Income Support at the time and didn't have to pay for the course. Contact a local college and get details, or the Citizens Advice Bureau may be able to help.

If one of the homeless people became ill after eating food handled by you and you had no hygiene certificate, either you or the people you work for could be prosecuted. You have to cover yourself.

[BlackadderV]

"Good practice"? Where have I heard that expression before.

[Maydup]

Yes you will have to have a certificate; it matters not whether your customers are homeless or live in a palace, you can't be poisoning them!

[pastafreak]

Money does not go to the council...or didn't when I did it,and its about a lot more than washing hands when you go to the toilet. If that's all you think it is,I suggest you educate yourself.

[Maydup]

^^^^ but the church should pay for you to go on the course as part of their expenses in providing the service. Volunteers are not normally expected to be out of pocket.

[BlackadderV]

All that a certificate does is show that you have sat the course. It does not prove that you follow its dictates. I wonder if the authorities pursue mosques with the same enthusiasm as they do churches.

[Gavmacp]

I have always tried to give the same service that I would hope to receive. Whether my client group were disabled, homeless, elderly etc.

[237SJ]

Yes it does show that you have attended the course. Of course it can`t show that you have followed the dicates - dirty people will be dirty people but at least it might educate some people as to what is acceptable in food handling and what is not.