Food handler courses in South Africa
Anyone who prepares, serves or packs food, including new, casual and seasonal staff.
- SAATCA-registered TC 065
- FoodBev SETA-accredited 587/00337/1900
- QR-verified certificates
- No VAT added
Which courses does a food handler need in South Africa?
A food handler in South Africa needs Basic Food Safety Practices for Food Handlers (6 hours, R899) under Regulation R638 10(1)(b), one enrolment per person, with the certificate kept on the premises for the inspector. Allergen Awareness for Food Handlers (5 hours, R690) follows. Basic Food Hygiene Awareness (4 hours, R420) is optional, for new staff before their first shift.
In what order should food handlers take these courses, and why?
R638 regulation 10(1)(b) says everyone who handles food must be trained, and 10(1)(d) says the records must be ready for the inspector. Basic Food Safety Practices for Food Handlers is that training: hygiene, contamination, temperatures and stock. Allergen Awareness follows, because an undeclared allergen is the quickest way a kitchen or a line hurts a customer. New staff can start with the 4 hour awareness course before their first shift. Sites certified to FSSC 22000, BRCGS or SQF add the culture course, because auditors now interview people on the floor.
How long does the food handler path take, and what does it cost?
The 2 core courses take about 11 hours of self-paced study and cost R1 589 bought one by one. At 5 hours a week that is about 3 weeks, on a phone or a laptop.
Set it against what it protects: a failed inspection or a closed premises costs a business far more than any course on this page.
Hours and prices are read from each course page. Last checked 11 October 2026.
What you get on this path
- A certificate per course, the day you passEach carries a QR code that an inspector, auditor or employer scans to verify it.
- Marked the moment you submitEvery assessment has a 70% pass mark and three attempts, with feedback that names the lesson to go back to.
- Access does not expire, so there is no deadline to finish.Start today on a phone or a laptop, stop and resume whenever you like.
- Pay online or by invoiceNo VAT is added. Teams get per-learner pricing and a manager dashboard that tracks every certificate.
Questions food handlers ask before they enrol
Is the ASC food handler certificate accepted by the health inspector?
Yes. Basic Food Safety Practices for Food Handlers is the training R638 regulation 10(1)(b) requires for anyone who handles food, and regulation 10(1)(d) requires the records to be ready for the environmental health practitioner. ASC is FoodBev SETA accredited (587/00337/1900) and the certificate carries a QR code the inspector can scan to verify it. Keep a copy of each certificate on the premises.
Can food handlers do the course on a phone at work?
Yes. Every ASC course is online and self-paced, so a food handler can work through Basic Food Safety Practices for Food Handlers on a phone between shifts or in a quiet hour at work. The course takes about 6 hours and access never expires. The assessment needs a 70% pass mark and allows three attempts. The certificate is issued online with a QR code.
Do new staff need Basic Food Hygiene Awareness and Food Handlers?
Not both at once. Basic Food Hygiene Awareness for Food Handlers is a 4 hour, R420 course for new staff before their first shift. Basic Food Safety Practices for Food Handlers, 6 hours and R899, is the full regulation 10(1)(b) training that follows. Staff with kitchen experience can skip the awareness course, start with Food Handlers and then add Allergen Awareness for Food Handlers, 5 hours and R690.