Food handling courses are one of the best ways to gain the fundamental knowledge and skills required to handle food safely in a food business, some of which include:

• properly cleaning and sanitizing all surfaces, equipment and utensils
• maintaining a high standard of personal hygiene
• understanding your legal obligations with regards to food handling
• storing, preparing and cooking food correctly with regards to temperature, environment and equipment
• understanding food allergies, food intolerance and how cross-contamination occurs
• understanding how food poisoning can occur and how to keep customers safe from harmful bacteria
• implementing effective pest control measures

Why is food handling course important?

Food safety is a very critical to ensuring consumer safety and trust.  This is why proper training in food handling, becomes more important in food preparation, processing or production. It is vital to train food handlers on hygiene because food safety is compromised when hygiene is neglected and not given sufficient attention.

There are multiple benefits of training food handlers on hygiene and food safety, here we look at the most important benefits of this training:

• fulfillment of the regulatory requirement by law
• reduction of food wastage by organising and storing food so that the food remains in its proper state of quality
• reduce health risk cases by taking better care to make sure that the food is not prepared on contaminated surfaces and maintaining a high standard of personal hygiene
• help creating essential food hygiene culture by the positive knowledge, attitude and practice
• increase confidence and assurance of customer
• the business will be reputable and considered a trusted food establishment
• food handlers will be more motivated when they are in a hygienic space, which can lead to efficiency
• give your business a competitive edge over your competition
• increases profit margins of any establishment as there is greater productivity, less wastage, fewer contraventions of the law, and happier customers who are likely to return and keep the business going

This good practices will make your food premises a pleasant, safe place to eat for customers, which means they’ll likely return and recommend you to others. Furthermore, when you run a business that works hard to uphold good hygiene practices, customer and client will recognize your efforts, trust that your food is safe, and want to do business with you. Food handler training provide staff with the knowledge they need to build and maintain this positive reputation.

Who needs a food handling course in Malaysia?

By law, all Food Handlers must be adequately trained in food hygiene and safety. Food handling course in Malaysia is a legal requirement from MOH.  All food handlers must attend the food handling course Malaysia, as a mandatory requirement of the Ministry of Health Malaysia. A fine of not more than RM10,000 or not more than two years imprisonment would fail to do so.

Food Handling certification requirements are set and enforced at all level including Municipality Licensing, Majlis Perbandaran and Dewan Bandaraya in Malaysia. As a food business owner, training manager or general manager, you need to have a clear understanding of specific food safety laws to ensure that the business is adhering to federal, provincial and municipal laws.

You are required to make sure all food handler attending this food handling course and certified in each area of the premises where food is prepared, processed, served, packaged or stored during all hours of operation

A common misconception is that food handling course Malaysia certification legislation only applies to hospitality businesses. You may be surprised to discover that your business is considered a food business by law. These may include:

• hotels / cafés / restaurant / catering businesses
• event and conferences centers
• convenience stores
• supermarkets, groceries and bakeries
• hawker / night market
• food truck / food rider / bazar ramadhan
• home based / home baker
• food manufacturer

Organizations and charities that distribute or serve food (especially those that serve vulnerable persons like young children, sick people or the elderly) are subject to the same regulations and requirements. For example:

• hospitals
• childcare and aged care facilities
• school cafeterias

If you plan to serve food or beverages of any kind, you are more than likely required to employ a certified Food Handlers who has been trained in a food handling course Malaysia. If you are a job seeker looking for work in hospitality or another food industry, obtaining a food handling certificate can give you an advantage over other candidates.

The good news is that by training and certifying your Food Handlers, you are safeguarding your customers, and your business, from food safety hazards that could have serious consequences. You’re also reclaiming some of the time you spend monitoring and correcting employees, allowing you to focus on long-term growth strategies for your business.