Food Handler Medical Certificate (Onshore) — £100

While UK law does not mandate that every food handler must hold a specific medical certificate before starting work, the Food Safety Act 1990 and Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 require food business operators to ensure that food handlers are medically fit and do not pose a risk to public health. Many employers — particularly in healthcare catering, hospitality, food manufacturing, and contract catering — require a formal certificate as part of their pre-employment or periodic health surveillance process. Local authority environmental health officers may also request evidence of medical fitness during inspections.

A certificate cannot be issued if the food handler is currently suffering from, or is a known carrier of, a disease likely to be transmitted through food. This includes active gastrointestinal infections (Salmonella, E. coli O157, Campylobacter, Norovirus, or typhoid), active Hepatitis A infection, infected skin wounds or dermatological conditions affecting the hands, or any other condition the examining doctor considers poses a risk to food safety. The doctor will advise on steps required — such as treatment or symptom resolution — before a certificate can be granted.

There is no statutory validity period specified in UK food law. The certificate reflects fitness status at the date of assessment. As a general guide, many food businesses request a new certificate annually or upon return after a significant illness or absence. Where a food handler develops gastrointestinal symptoms or an infectious illness after a certificate has been issued, they must be excluded from food-handling work regardless, and a new assessment is required before return to duties.

Yes. If you require a G41 Working at Heights certificate or a Chester Step Test in addition to the NOGEPA offshore medical, these can be combined into a single appointment at Cherries Medical Clinic. Please advise us at the time of booking.

Yes — corporate and multi-employee bookings are welcome. Volume discounts are available for bookings of five or more individuals. Contact our Business Enquiries team on 07306852397 or info@cherriesmedicalclinic.co.uk. On-site visits to your premises can also be arranged for larger teams.

Yes. For businesses with a larger number of employees — such as hotel kitchens, food manufacturing facilities, or large catering operations — our GP can visit your site. On-site visits are charged at a per-person rate plus a travel fee depending on your location. Please contact our Business Enquiries team for a tailored quotation.

No. A food hygiene certificate (e.g. Level 2 Award in Food Safety) is a training qualification demonstrating that a food handler has been trained in food hygiene principles. A Food Handler Medical Certificate is a medical fitness assessment confirming the individual does not carry or suffer from a disease transmissible through food. Both may be required, but they serve different purposes and are issued by different bodies.

Yes. If you work on an offshore oil and gas platform, wind installation, or vessel, you require the OEUK Offshore Medical with Food Handlers Certificate (£160), which combines the full OEUK offshore fitness assessment with the food handler certificate in a single appointment. Please see the relevant page on our website.