The Importance of Continuing Professional Development for Food Handlers

If you’re employed in the food sector or considering moving into this exciting industry, you’re sure to encounter the term CPD or Continuing Professional Development.

But what is CPD, and why is it so important for food handlers?

This guide will explain the benefits of Continuous Professional Development for food handlers and help you decide which online CPD courses are appropriate for food handlers. You’ll also discover how Caredemy’s online training courses for food businesses can help food handlers harness the power of Continuous Professional Development.

Why is CPD Crucial for Food Handlers?

When you work as a food handler, everyone who buys the food you prepare is looking forward eagerly to tucking into it. That means your products need to carry with them a promise of quality and safety.

Food handlers directly touch open food as part of their role, so they must ensure that every aspect of their work promotes food safety and supports high standards of quality. This requires ongoing training.

Here are just some of the reasons why CPD courses for food handlers are so essential:

Safety First

According to the Food Standards Agency, there are approximately 2.4 million cases of foodborne disease in the UK each year. Illnesses caused by pathogens like Salmonella, Listeria and norovirus result in a cost to society of around £9.1 billion every year.

By staying updated through regular Continuing Professional Development (CPD) courses, food handlers can ensure they aren’t contributing to those numbers.  

Allergen Alert

The Food Standards Agency also reports that an estimated two million people in the UK are living with a diagnosed food allergy, and a further 600,000 have Coeliac Disease.

CPD training for food handlers covers essential topics like allergen awareness to help keep every diner safe.

Legal Know-How

The world of food safety is governed by a myriad of laws and regulations that are regularly updated. CPD courses ensure food handlers have the information they need to stay on the right side of the law.

Business Reputation

CPD also helps food handlers aim for and maintain high scores on the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS). A good score can significantly boost a business’s reputation and help attract more customers.

The Backbone of CPD: Online Training Courses

Food handlers follow a busy schedule, and it can be challenging to find the time to attend in-person CPD activities like conferences or training courses. Investing in Caredemy’s CPD accredited online training courses is an effective way to solve this issue.

Food handlers can plan online CPD training more easily, as there’s no requirement to travel to course venues or book expensive overnight accommodation. You can study at your own pace, at any time of day and from any convenient location, which makes studying CPD online a significant advantage for busy food handlers.

Continuous Professional Development for food handlers can cover a wide range of topics, including:

• Food Hygiene Training
• Allergen Awareness
• Improving Your Food Hygiene Rating
• Fire Safety Awareness
• HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point)

Caredemy courses all include our high-quality online study materials, which you can also download for offline learning at your convenience. The online Caredemy personal Learner Dashboard helps you track your progress through the course so you can easily find where you finished the previous study session. 

When you complete your course and pass the online course assessment, you’ll receive a nationally-recognised CPD certificate. This CPD certification celebrates your achievement and helps you keep track of your CPD hours.

If you’re a manager in charge of planning CPD training for food handlers, you’ll find that the Caredemy Learner Management System makes it easy to book courses, monitor learner progress and collate CPD information for inspection.

And if you need any advice on planning your CPD programme or have questions about CPD training or any specific food handler’s course, you can easily contact our expert Student Support team.

More than just Food Safety

The work of a food handler isn’t just about preparing and serving delicious food; it’s also about providing high-quality service and establishing trust.

Every dining experience should be memorable for the right reasons, and online CPD training courses are a cornerstone that supports any successful food business.