Nutrition and Oral Health - NHS Lanarkshire

9: FOOD SAFETY AND HYGIENE
Participation in food preparation is a valuable learning experience for children
and provides a great opportunity to reinforce basic personal and food hygiene
procedures. It is essential that children who are involved in the preparation of
snacks are always closely supervised.
The Elementary Food Hygiene Certificate
The Elementary Food Hygiene Certificate is required for the level of food
preparation discussed in this pack and we strongly recommend that at least
one member of staff from the nursery, or a childminder, who is involved in food
or snack production completes the course.
A number of colleges in North Lanarkshire run the Elementary Food Hygiene
course on behalf of Environmental Services. The course is subsidised by the
local authority and therefore will be offered at a reduced rate for North
Lanarkshire nursery staff. It is free of charge to voluntary organisations. Staff
should contact Coatbridge, Cumbernauld or Motherwell Colleges directly.
Nursery staff in South Lanarkshire should contact the local authority
Environmental Health Department for further information on the Elementary
Food Hygiene course. Nurseries may be offered this training free of charge,
depending on the level of food production on the premises.
We recognise that the majority of establishments will not provide lunches and
will only handle a limited range of snack foods. However, it is intended that the
information below can be shared with parents, as it gives advice on the
appropriate handling of high risk foods such as raw meat and poultry.
If your nursery is responsible for providing lunches or cooked meals we
recommend that you consult with your local Environmental Health Officer for
advice on food hygiene training, registration and risk assessment. Depending
on the type of foods you prepare in your nursery, you may be required to
complete a food registration form. You should contact your Environmental
Health Officer in your local authority for advice on whether this is necessary for
your establishment. For North Lanarkshire Council contact 01236 616522,
and for South Lanarkshire Council contact 01355 806915.
Strategy into Practice in the Early Years
Food Safety and Hygiene 23