R638 Knowledge Centre
Online Basic Food Safety Training for South Africa
FOOD SAFETY STARTS WITH KNOWLEDGE.
Practical, accessible online Basic Food Safety Training for food handlers and food businesses across South Africa.
Who is this training for?
Foodologists Basic Food Safety Training is designed for people who handle food or work in and around food environments across South Africa.
These are examples of roles that can benefit from practical food-safety knowledge. The exact legal requirements that apply can depend on the role, the premises and the nature of the work — so this list should not be read as implying that an identical legal requirement applies in the same way to every role.
Why food-safety knowledge matters
Good food-safety knowledge helps people make safer decisions every day — protecting customers and building trust in a food business.
What you'll learn
The course covers the core, practical themes of everyday food safety — from understanding hazards to keeping proper records.
Understand your mission
The basics of food safety, why it matters, and how it protects customers and the workplace.
Know your hazards
Identifying germs, allergens, chemical and physical hazards and how they cause foodborne illness.
Become a hygiene hero
Personal hygiene, handwashing, PPE, injuries, illness reporting and preventing contamination.
Stop cross-contamination
How germs spread and how to stop them through separation, correct storage, colour-coding and safe equipment use.
Cleaning & sanitising
Proper cleaning methods, chemical handling, sanitising surfaces, equipment care and pest-control basics.
Control temperatures
Safe cooking, cooling and reheating, temperature danger zones and using thermometers correctly.
Manage allergens safely
Common allergens, preventing cross-contact, reading labels, communicating risks and responding to emergencies.
Know the rules
South African food-safety regulations, legal obligations, inspections and why documentation matters.
Keep records like a professional
Completing temperature logs, cleaning records, checklists and reporting sheets accurately.
Report & act on deviations
Speaking up, fixing problems, communicating hazards and maintaining a strong food-safety culture.
How the course works
The learning journey is simple and self-paced — from enrolment through to your Certificate of Completion.
R638-aligned training
“R638-aligned” means the training content is designed with reference to the themes and expectations of R638 — South Africa's general hygiene requirements for food premises.
It is important to be clear about what this does and does not mean. R638-aligned describes how the course content relates to the regulation. It does not mean the course is “R638 accredited”, “government accredited” or an “official R638 course”, and the Certificate of Completion is not a “government-approved certificate.”
What is R638?Food-handler training under R638
R638 refers to the training of people who work on food premises. Practical food-safety training helps food handlers gain the knowledge and skills to handle food safely.
Our dedicated guide explains what food-handler training under R638 involves and how training records fit into a business's food-safety responsibilities.
Read about R638 food-handler trainingWho provides the training?
Foodologists provides the training. It is led by Charnay Nefdt, whose background is in biotechnology and food technology, and who is a Registered Facilitator and Registered Assessor.
Certificate of Completion
This certificate confirms successful completion of the Foodologists Basic Food Safety Training course and assessment and is issued directly by Foodologists (Pty) Ltd.
Each certificate carries a unique assessment number and QR code so it can be verified digitally. It is learner-level evidence that a person completed the course and assessment.
A Certificate of Completion is not a Certificate of Acceptability. A Certificate of Acceptability relates to a food premises and is handled through the relevant local authority.
Choose your training path
Whether you are training yourself or your team, there is a simple way to get started.
Training for Yourself?
Build your practical food-safety knowledge through flexible online learning.
- 100% online
- Learn at your own pace
- Approximately 3 hours
- 12 months access
- Assessment
- Foodologists Certificate of Completion
Training Your Food Handlers?
Give your team practical food-safety knowledge while simplifying the management of training records.
- Online staff training
- Multiple learners
- Digital training records
- Manager / supervisor dashboard where applicable
- Certificates of Completion
- Business training options
Why Foodologists?
Foodologists brings together food, science and safety in accessible, practical online learning.
Our WHY
“Foodologists exists to help create a South Africa where everyone — from local communities to international visitors — can enjoy quality, safe food with confidence.”
We believe this starts with knowledge: empowering food handlers and supporting responsible food businesses to build a stronger culture of food safety.
Frequently asked questions
Is the course online?
How long does it take?
How long do I have access?
What certificate do I receive?
Is the training R638 aligned?
Is the course SETA/QCTO accredited?
Does the certificate guarantee a CoA?
Can businesses train multiple employees?
Where can I enrol?
READY TO BUILD BETTER FOOD-SAFETY KNOWLEDGE?
Individual
START MY TRAININGOwner / Team
TRAIN MY TEAMExplore the R638 Knowledge Centre
Continue learning with the other guides in the Foodologists R638 Knowledge Centre.
What is R638?
Understand the R638 food hygiene regulations and what they mean for South African food businesses.
Read moreFood Handler Training
What R638-aligned food handler training involves and why training your staff matters.
Read moreWho Can Train Food Handlers?
Who is allowed to train food handlers under R638, and how training records fit in.
Read moreCertificate of Acceptability
What a Certificate of Acceptability (CoA) is, who issues it and how it differs from training.
Read moreThis information is provided for general educational purposes and should not be regarded as legal advice. Requirements may vary according to the nature of the food premises and applicable local-authority requirements. Businesses should confirm requirements with the Environmental Health Services of the relevant local authority.