Contact

email -
contact us form

telephone -
01823 254249

address -
8 Pope Close
Taunton
Somerset
TA1 4YE

accreditation

For all your NCPLH Licensing please go to:

www.ncplhlicensing-southwest.co.uk

For all your First Aid Training please go to:

www.firstaidtraining-southwest.co.uk

Information

I will hold Level 3 Supervising Food Safety courses for 3 or more people at your premises or at an off site venue.
Level 3 courses are held on a regular basis, ,,,my next confirmed course is on Monday 27th & Tuesday 28th February and is being held in central Taunton,,,if you would like to attend or arrange your own course then please contact Derek Robinson
Level 2 Food Safety courses are on held generally on a monthly basis,
The next Level 2 course is likely to be held in Mid March and will be held in central Taunton.
Please note Polish language examination papers and handbooks are available for Level 2 Polish candidates
If you would like to attend any of the above courses or you would like to discuss your requirements of having a class at your premises then please contact by calling Derek Robinson on 01823 254249 / 07768 600037, or use the contact form on this site.
Food Hygiene Training – South West is operated by Derek Robinson who worked in the bakery industry for over 35 years with Hovis Bakeries. He has operated at all levels and at many locations gaining a vast amount of experience and knowledge of the manufacturing and retail business.
Although based in the South West where the company is a listed training provider with many councils throughout Somerset, Devon, Cornwall, Dorset, Gloucestershire and South Wales. Courses can be arranged in all areas of the country dependent on numbers. Current clients include NHS, Bourne Leisure, The Donkey Sanctuary, West Sussex Council, Leonard Cheshire Disability, Women’s Institute, Motor Yacht Leander, Cowley Manor Hotel, Lacona Hotels Group, care homes, hotels, schools, nurseries, supermarkets and the catering trade.
Food Hygiene Training – South West is also an approved centre of HABC (Highfield Awarding Body for Compliance) authorised to offer Level 2 and Level 3 awards in Food Safety Courses and HACCP under their certification and also RSPH (Royal Society of Public Health) and also able to offer their range of food safety qualifications.
Public awareness of Food Safety has greatly increased over recent years, possibly prompted by some well publicised cases of major food poisoning outbreaks. Many have suffered severe symptoms and sadly, in the more extreme cases, lives have been lost.
Our modern lifestyles and improved incomes have both contributed to the increase of food poising. Issues related to foreign travel, eating “on the go”, fast-food outlets, barbecues and catered events have all been implicated.
The fight back starts by attending food safety courses such as those offered by Food Hygiene Training – South West. These provide an understanding of the causes and measures required to reduce risk. While the majority of Food Safety training relies on common sense, a large number of less well known and understood issues are covered in depth.
The Level 2 and Level 3 RSPH and HABC Food Safety Certificates are recognised by both the Sector Skills Council and the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA). HABC are one of the first organisations to operate fully withing the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF).
It should be noted that the RIPH ceased to exist on 1st October 2008 following its merger with the Royal Society of Health (RSH) to form the new and much larger organisation The Royal Society of Public Health (RSPH).
Regulation EC No 852/2004 on the hygiene of foodstuffs states:
Food business operators shall ensure that food handlers engaged in the food business are supervised and instructed and/or trained in food hygiene matters commensurate with their work activity.

Attending a recognised food safety course and achieving the necessary pass allows you to demonstrate that this essential requirement has been met.

Bacteria

There are many organisms which can cause food poisoning outbreaks, the more well known of which are shown below. Prevention comes through good food hygiene practice and also attending a recognised Food Hygiene Safety Training course. Food Hygiene Training – South West’s courses show how to recognise risks and how to deploy the necessary preventative measures.

Salmonella:
Is found in animals, especially poultry and pigs.

Sources of salmonella include water, soil, insects, kitchen surfaces, raw meats, raw poultry, and raw seafoods.
Onset of symptoms is between 6 and 48 hours
The duration of illness is normally between 1 and 2 days
Symptoms could include any or all of the following; nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhoea, fever, and headache
All age groups can be affected, but it is generally the young, elderly and the sick who are the most susceptible

Escherichia coli (E coli):
One of the major causes of E coli is when there has been a breakdown in basic food hygiene practices, for instance failing to wash hands after visiting the toilet

Onset of symptoms is between 12 and 72 hours
Duration of illness is normally between 1 and 5 days
Symptoms could include any or all of the following; nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea and fever
All age groups can be affected, but generally it is the young, elderly and the sick who are the most susceptible. Confined groups of people (for instance those in residential care homes) are particlarly at risk.E coli has been involved in many of the most serious and well documented food poisoning outbreaks in recent years.

Staphylococcus aureus:

This can be found on the skin and in the nose of healthy people, but can be transferred due to poor personal hygiene
Sources of Staph include processed foods, cooked meats, fish, shellfish and dairy products
Onset of symptoms is between 1 and 6 hours
Duration of illness is normally around 1 day
Symptoms could include any or all of the following, vomiting and diarrhoea
All age groups can be affected

Clostridium Perfringens:

Usually related to inadequate cooking and storage procedures, involving cooling and reheating, cooking too far in advance, storage at room temperature and the use of leftover stocks and gravies. Outbreaks are often connected with large scale catering events such as weddings or in restaurants or schools etc.
Onset of symptoms is between 12 and 18 hours
Duration of illness is normally between 1 and 2 days.
Symptoms could include any or all of the following; severe abdominal pain, diarrhoea, nausea
All age groups can be affected, .

Pests

Pests such as Rats, Mice, Cockroaches, Flies and birds are often the major cause of food poisoning and contamination
Pests are in many respects like human beings, requiring food, water, warmth and shelter. Infestation can be eliminated by denying their core life-giving requirements
Food which can be eaten or contaminated by pests should never be left uncovered
A Clean as you go policy should be operated throughout food preperation premises
Premises must meet the required construction standards both internally and externally
A documented inspection regime should be implemented
Staff should be suitably trained to identify and report signs of infestation
In the case of possible infestation help from specilised professionals should always be sought
The use of chemicals and insecticides should ideally be left to professional operators