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Course overview
Qualify to carry out official food controls with our Food Standards module. Gain a comprehensive introduction to the main areas of food standards including the identification and examination of common foods and judgement of their fitness.
If you’re an experienced officer taking on new responsibilities, this course is for you. You could also be converting from the Higher Certificate in Food Premises Inspection to the Higher Certificate in Food Control.
Course Structure
Learn about the identification and examination of common foods and food sources, and how to judge their fitness for human consumption.
This module is an excellent introduction to the main areas of food standards. Although primarily aimed at enforcement bodies, the content is likely to be of interest to those working in various sectors of the food industry, especially where the labelling and composition of foods is of importance.
Over five days you’ll study topics including food information, composition requirements, food additives, sampling and the role of the public analyst and much more.
The lectures will be a combination of online and face to face at the University of Birmingham Edgbaston Campus.
Course highlights
Birmingham is ranked 80th in the QS World University Rankings 2025, maintaining our position in the top 100 universities globally and placing us 12th amongst UK universities.
The module covers the identification and examination of common foods and food sources and judgement of their fitness for human consumption.
Successful Completion of the module provides evidence that the candidate is suitably qualified to carry out official controls in food standards as indicated in the Food Law Code of Practice, and, together with the Food Inspection Endorsement, will meet the requirements for the Higher Certificate in Food Control. Officers with the Higher Certificate in Food Control may be authorised to use section 9 of the Food Safety Act 1990.
The course tutors and examiners are food specialists and have a broad experience of food inspection.
Course delivery
The module covers the identification and examination of common foods and food sources and judgement of their fitness for human consumption.
Module information
The Food Standards module is a ten credit module which may be taken by holders of the Higher Certificate in Food Premises Inspection.
This module will include:
- the judgement of fitness
- gross post-mortem evidence of pathological conditions of common food animals including fish, shellfish and products of animal origin
- spoilage
- product recall and traceability,
- appropriate legal responses to fit, unfit and unsaleable food
Entry requirements
To gain a place at Birmingham you will need to meet our general entry requirements, as well as those specific to your course. Your application will be reviewed by the course’s Admissions Tutor, who will decide whether your application should receive an offer.
There are no prerequisites for this course although some knowledge of food law is recommended.
Candidates who are unsure whether their experience will be appropriate should contact the course coordinator to discuss the matter.
Fees and scholarships
- TBC for 2025
2024 fee - £650
Application process
To register an interest in attending the next course please contact:
Iain Ferris,
School of Chemical Engineering,
The University of Birmingham,
Edgbaston,
Birmingham,
B15 2TT.
Tel: (+44) (0) 121 414 5336
Email: i.ferris@bham.ac.uk
We operate a waiting list system and will contact those that have registered an interest as soon as booking becomes available.
Career opportunities
Authorised officers delivering official controls on behalf of the local authority must be properly trained and updated. This module is an excellent introduction to the main areas of food standards for those working in various sectors of the food industry, especially where the labelling and composition of foods is of importance.