01
Chefs and Kitchen Staff
For chefs, cooks, kitchen assistants and food preparation employees responsible for preparing ingredients, cooking meals and maintaining hygienic food preparation areas.
Preparation, cooking and kitchen hygiene
Professional Food Safety Qualification
HABC Level 2 International Award in Food Safety
Develop the knowledge and confidence to handle food safely and maintain professional hygiene standards.
At Foremost Institute for Health and Safety (FIHS), we provide professional food safety training to help learners understand food hygiene, personal responsibilities, contamination prevention and safe food handling. Explore the HABC Level 2 International Award in Food Safety, currently titled the Highfield Level 2 International Award in Food Safety, and develop knowledge that matters in real food business environments.
- Personal hygiene and food handler responsibilities
- Food contamination and cross-contamination prevention
- Safe food storage, preparation and handling
Food Safety Training Enquiries · Abu Dhabi · UAE
6 Hours
Guided learning
Level 2
Food safety qualification
Assessment
Multiple-choice examination
Understanding food safety
Food safety is more than a procedure. It is a responsibility.
Every stage of food handling matters. The decisions made by food handlers can influence food quality, consumer wellbeing and the safety of an entire food operation.
Food safety in practice
Small handling mistakes can create significant food safety risks.
Safe food handling starts with awareness.
Recognising hazards is an essential part of preventing contamination.
Food can become unsafe when harmful microorganisms, chemicals, physical objects or allergens are introduced through poor handling practices. Contamination may occur during receiving, preparation, cooking, storage, transportation or service.
This is why food hygiene is essential in restaurants, hotels, catering operations, food production facilities and every business involved in preparing or serving food. Food handlers need to recognise potential hazards and understand how their everyday actions can prevent them.
What responsible food handling involves
Key principles01
Protect food from contamination
Recognise biological, chemical, physical and allergenic hazards. Understand how contamination can enter food during delivery, preparation, storage and service.
02
Maintain personal hygiene
Apply appropriate handwashing, personal cleanliness and protective clothing practices. Understand how poor personal hygiene can compromise food safety.
03
Prevent cross-contamination
Keep raw and ready-to-eat foods appropriately separated. Use suitable utensils, preparation areas and handling procedures to reduce contamination risks.
04
Follow safe food handling procedures
Understand the importance of safe storage, temperature control, cleaning, food preparation and hygienic food service.
The importance of trained food handlers
At Foremost Institute for Health and Safety, we emphasise the knowledge behind safe food handling. Our aim is to help learners recognise food safety risks, understand their responsibilities and make more informed decisions throughout everyday food operations.
The principle behind food safety
Safe food is the result of informed decisions, consistent hygiene and responsible handling at every stage.
Knowledge. Prevention. Responsibility.
Inside the qualification
What you will learn in the HABC Level 2 Food Safety qualification
At FIHS, we help learners understand the knowledge behind safe food handling. Explore the four key learning areas of the Highfield Level 2 International Award in Food Safety and see how each area relates to everyday food business responsibilities.
Learning frameworkFour learning areas
Module 01 of 04
These learning areas follow the core subject structure of the Highfield Level 2 International Award in Food Safety.
Learning area 01
Qualification contentKnowledge, awareness and accountability
Understand your responsibility for food safety
Food safety begins with understanding the responsibilities of everyone involved in handling food. Learners explore why food safety procedures matter, how unsafe practices can affect consumers and why potential hazards must be recognised and reported.
Key topics covered
4 topicsWhy food safety procedures matter
Understand how appropriate food safety practices help protect consumers and maintain safe food operations.
Responsibilities of food handlers
Recognise the importance of following workplace procedures, maintaining hygiene and handling food responsibly.
Recognising and reporting hazards
Identify potential food safety problems and understand when concerns must be reported to the appropriate person.
Consequences of unsafe food handling
Understand how poor practices can contribute to food contamination, foodborne illness and risks to a food business.
Workplace application
A food handler notices that a food delivery has arrived in unsuitable condition. They must recognise the potential risk, follow workplace procedures and report the issue before the food is used.
Module 01 / 04
At FIHS, our aim is to help learners connect food safety knowledge with responsible practices in restaurants, catering operations and other food businesses.
Beyond the classroom
Food safety decisions that matter in the real workplace.
Food handlers make important decisions throughout the working day. Explore these realistic food safety situations to see how hygiene awareness, hazard recognition and safe handling procedures apply in everyday food businesses.
Learn to recognise the risk
Good food safety starts before a problem reaches the consumer.
Understanding contamination, personal hygiene, safe food storage and workplace cleaning helps food handlers make informed decisions.
Prevention through knowledge
Interactive workplace scenarios
What would you do?
Select a situation and choose the most appropriate response.
The situation01
Raw food and ready-to-eat vegetables
A kitchen employee has finished preparing raw chicken. They are now about to prepare ready-to-eat vegetables using the same chopping board and knife.
Consider the risk
Think about the possible contamination or hygiene risk before choosing your response.
Decision point
What should the food handler do before preparing the vegetables?
These examples demonstrate the type of food safety awareness required in food businesses. Formal qualification learning also covers the underlying principles, procedures and responsibilities.
Find out who should attendWho is this qualification for?
Food safety knowledge for the people who handle food every day.
The HABC Level 2 International Award in Food Safety is intended for people working, or planning to work, in a food business. Whether preparing meals, handling ingredients or serving food, understanding food hygiene is an important workplace responsibility.
Across the food industry
Safe food handling is a shared responsibility, from the preparation counter to the customer.
Food safety awareness in the workplace
Your workplace. Your responsibility.
Is your role connected to food handling?
Food safety responsibilities are not limited to chefs. Anyone involved in preparing, handling, storing, transporting or serving food may need to understand the principles of hygienic food handling.
You prepare or handle food products.
You work with food storage or preparation equipment.
You serve food to customers or consumers.
You work in a business where food hygiene is essential.
The suitability of the qualification depends on the learner's role, workplace requirements and applicable food safety requirements.
Relevant occupational roles
Who can benefit from food safety training?
Explore common roles where food hygiene knowledge supports safe and responsible working practices.
02
Restaurant and Café Employees
Relevant to restaurant teams and café employees who handle ingredients, prepare food, serve customers or work around food contact surfaces and equipment.
Food preparation and customer service
03
Hotel and Hospitality Personnel
Suitable for hospitality employees involved in hotel kitchens, buffet operations, room service, food presentation and other food-related activities.
Hospitality food operations
04
Catering and Food Service Teams
For catering assistants, food service personnel and employees involved in preparing, storing, transporting or serving food in different environments.
Catering and food service
05
Food Production and Processing Staff
Relevant to employees working with food products during handling, preparation, processing, packing and storage, according to their workplace responsibilities.
Food handling and product protection
06
Food Retail and Grocery Employees
For employees involved in handling, displaying, storing or serving food products in supermarkets, grocery outlets and other food retail environments.
Food storage and retail handling
Industries and environments
Food safety knowledge across different food businesses.
RestaurantsHotelsCateringCafésFood productionFood retail
Building food safety knowledge starts with understanding the responsibilities of your role.
FIHS welcomes enquiries from individuals and organisations interested in food safety training arrangements in Abu Dhabi.
Qualification information
Understand the qualification before you enrol.
Discover the course duration, learning outcomes, assessment method and qualification information for the HABC Level 2 International Award in Food Safety Training, currently titled the Highfield Level 2 International Award in Food Safety.
Official qualification title
Highfield Level 2 International Award in Food Safety
Also commonly searched for using the legacy HABC Level 2 International Award in Food Safety name.
Level02
01 / SPECIFICATION
Qualification level
Level 2
An international food safety qualification.
02 / SPECIFICATION
Guided learning
6 hours
Six guided learning hours are specified.
03 / SPECIFICATION
Typical delivery
1 day
Typically delivered over one training day.
04 / SPECIFICATION
Assessment
Multiple choice
Assessment through a multiple-choice examination.
Training duration and assessment information should be confirmed against the current qualification specification and the centre's delivery arrangements.
Learning outcomes
Four essential areas of food safety knowledge.
The qualification is structured around four learning outcomes. Together, they help learners understand how everyday decisions and working practices contribute to food safety.
Learn the principles. Understand the risks. Apply safe practices at work.
01
Personal responsibility for food safety
Understand individual responsibilities for maintaining food safety and protecting consumers from food-related risks.
02
Personal hygiene
Understand how personal cleanliness, effective handwashing, protective clothing and reporting illness help prevent food contamination.
03
Keeping work areas clean and hygienic
Learn the importance of effective cleaning, safe chemical use, waste management and pest prevention in food premises.
04
Keeping food products safe
Understand safe food handling, contamination prevention, storage, temperature control and hygienic food preparation.
Frequently asked questions
Questions before you enrol?
Find answers about the Highfield Level 2 International Award in Food Safety, its learning requirements and training arrangements in Abu Dhabi.
Ask FIHS about this qualificationIs HABC Level 2 International Award in Food Safety the same qualification as Highfield Level 2?
The current qualification title is Highfield Level 2 International Award in Food Safety. HABC is a legacy name commonly used in older references and online searches. This page includes both terms to help learners find the relevant qualification.
How long does the Level 2 Food Safety training take?
The qualification specifies six guided learning hours and is typically delivered as a one-day training course. Actual scheduling depends on the training arrangement.
How is the qualification assessed?
Assessment is through a multiple-choice examination. Learners should understand the course content and follow the assessment requirements explained during training.
What subjects are covered in the training?
The four learning outcomes cover personal responsibility for food safety, personal hygiene, keeping work areas clean and hygienic, and keeping food products safe. Topics include food hazards, contamination, cross-contamination, safe food handling, cleaning and temperature control.
Who should attend this food safety training?
The qualification is suitable for people who work, or intend to work, in food businesses. This includes chefs, kitchen staff, restaurant and café employees, catering teams, hospitality personnel, food production workers and food retail employees.
Can I attend this food safety training in Abu Dhabi?
Contact Foremost Institute for Health and Safety to confirm current training availability, delivery arrangements and enrolment information in Abu Dhabi.
Does this qualification replace all UAE food safety requirements?
Not necessarily. Employers and relevant local authorities may have additional training, licensing or food safety requirements. Learners and employers should confirm the requirements applicable to their workplace and location.
Important information for learners and employers
Course suitability, delivery language, assessment arrangements and any additional workplace or local authority requirements should be confirmed before enrolment. Contact FIHS for current course availability and qualification information.
The FIHS learning experience
Better food safety begins with better knowledge.
At Foremost Institute for Health and Safety, we focus on helping learners understand the importance of food safety and how to apply essential hygiene principles in their workplace. Our approach connects qualification knowledge with real food handling responsibilities.
Knowledge into practice
Learn to recognise risks, understand responsibilities and support safer food handling.
How we approach learning
Four steps towards safer food handling.
Food safety is not just about remembering information. It is about understanding why good practices matter and recognising how they protect consumers.
Knowledge with workplace relevance
01
Understand
Build a clear understanding of food safety principles, hazards and the responsibilities of food handlers.
02
Recognise
Identify situations that could lead to contamination, unsafe food handling and poor hygiene.
03
Apply
Connect what you learn with practical food safety responsibilities in everyday working environments.
04
Demonstrate
Develop the knowledge needed to approach the qualification assessment with greater confidence.
Learning focus
What your learning covers
01
Food hygiene and personal responsibility
02
Food hazards and contamination prevention
03
Safe storage and food handling principles
04
Cleaning, hygiene and workplace practices
Whether you are entering the food industry or strengthening your existing knowledge, the HABC Level 2 International Award in Food Safety Training can help you develop a stronger understanding of safe food handling and hygiene responsibilities.
Training content and assessment are delivered in accordance with the applicable qualification and centre requirements.
Your development journey
One qualification. A stronger foundation for your future.
Completing the HABC Level 2 International Award in Food Safety can be an important starting point in your professional development. Use the qualification to strengthen your understanding, apply good practices and identify your next learning goals.
Selected development stage
Build your food safety knowledge
YOUR FOUNDATION
Begin with the Highfield Level 2 International Award in Food Safety. Develop an understanding of personal hygiene, food hazards, contamination prevention and safe food handling.
Development focusUnderstand essential food safety principles.
Skills to keep developing
Build knowledge that matters at work.
The qualification provides a foundation. Continued development depends on your job responsibilities and workplace requirements.
Food hygiene
Maintain personal and workplace hygiene standards.
Safe food handling
Recognise hazards and reduce contamination risks.
Workplace awareness
Understand responsibilities within food operations.
Further learning
Identify development opportunities for your role.
Your next step is individual. The pathway above is an illustrative professional development guide, not a guaranteed qualification progression route. Further training, supervisory opportunities and role requirements depend on your employer, experience and applicable industry standards.
Start with the right food safety foundation.
Contact Foremost Institute for Health and Safety to enquire about the HABC / Highfield Level 2 International Award in Food Safety Training in Abu Dhabi.
Take the next step
Make food safety knowledge part of your next step.
Interested in the HABC Level 2 International Award in Food Safety Training, currently titled the Highfield Level 2 International Award in Food Safety? Speak with Foremost Institute for Health and Safety about training availability, course arrangements and enrolment in Abu Dhabi.
Course information
Training availability
Enrolment guidance
Contact FIHS
Let's discuss your training.
Choose the contact method that works best for you. Our team can help you with course information and the next steps.
Enquire on WhatsApp+971 50 521 9146Send us an emailsainath@fihs.aeContact our team to confirm current course availability, qualification details and enrolment requirements.
Foremost Institute for Health and Safety
Visit FIHS website