How often should food safety training be updated?

The frequency of updating food safety training is critical to ensuring that all staff members remain informed about the latest practices and regulations. It is ideal for food safety training to be updated at least annually to reflect current guidelines and industry standards. Additionally, whenever there are significant changes in procedures or regulations—for instance, new safety protocols or updated health codes—training should be refreshed to ensure that all employees are fully aware and compliant. This approach helps maintain high standards of food safety and reduces the risk of foodborne illnesses.

Training only when new staff is hired does not account for ongoing changes in the industry, while monthly updates could be excessive and impractical for most businesses. Updating only every two years may not keep staff adequately informed on evolving practices. Therefore, the recommendation for annual updates or immediate feedback during significant changes ensures continuous improvement and adherence to food safety standards.