Manufacturing, Engineering and Technology Manufacturing and Assembly

Demonstrate An Understanding Of Microbiological Principles And Its Application In A Food Handling Environment Training

SAQA US 119801 | NQF 5 | Credits 12 | Duration 9 Days
From $1,798 per delegate

Description

This course equips food handlers with a foundational understanding of microbiological principles and their practical application in food handling environments. Participants will learn to identify microbiological hazards, understand conditions that promote microbial growth, and apply control measures to ensure food safety and prevent contamination.

Learning Outcomes

  • Demonstrate an understanding of basic microbiological concepts and their relevance to food safety.
  • Identify the types of microorganisms that can cause food spoilage and foodborne illnesses.
  • Apply principles of microbial growth and control to prevent contamination in food handling.
  • Evaluate conditions that promote microbial growth and implement appropriate preventive measures.
  • Implement hygiene and sanitation practices that minimize microbiological risks in a food handling environment.

Target Audience

Food handlers, kitchen supervisors, quality assurance personnel, and anyone involved in food preparation, storage, or service in the food industry.

Prerequisites

None — open enrollment.

Course Outline

Day 1: Introduction to Microbiology and Food Safety

Objectives:
• Define microbiology and its relevance to food handling.
• Identify key microorganisms in food environments.
• Explain the concept of food spoilage and foodborne illness.
• List the factors affecting microbial growth in food.

Topics:
• Overview of microbiology in food industry
• Types of microorganisms: bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites
• Food spoilage vs. foodborne pathogens
• Conditions for microbial growth: temperature, pH, moisture, nutrients
• Introduction to food safety regulations in South Africa

Day 2: Bacteria and Their Role in Food

Objectives:
• Describe the structure and reproduction of bacteria.
• Identify common foodborne bacteria and their sources.
• Explain how bacteria cause food spoilage and illness.
• Discuss bacterial growth curves and their significance.

Topics:
• Bacterial cell structure and classification
• Reproduction methods: binary fission, spore formation
• Common foodborne bacteria: Salmonella, E. coli, Listeria, Staphylococcus
• Bacterial growth phases and generation time
• Factors influencing bacterial growth in food

Day 3: Viruses, Parasites, and Fungi in Food

Objectives:
• Differentiate between viruses, parasites, and fungi.
• Identify foodborne viruses and parasites of concern.
• Explain the role of fungi in food spoilage and safety.
• Describe transmission routes and prevention measures.

Topics:
• Foodborne viruses: Norovirus, Hepatitis A
• Parasites: Trichinella, Toxoplasma, Giardia
• Moulds and yeasts: spoilage and mycotoxins
• Sources and transmission in food handling
• Prevention: hygiene, cooking, and storage

Day 4: Principles of Food Spoilage

Objectives:
• Define food spoilage and its causes.
• Describe chemical and enzymatic spoilage.
• Explain microbial spoilage mechanisms.
• Identify signs of spoilage in different food types.

Topics:
• Types of spoilage: microbial, chemical, physical
• Enzymatic reactions and oxidation
• Spoilage of meat, dairy, vegetables, grains
• Spoilage indicators: odour, texture, colour
• Shelf life and factors extending it

Day 5: Foodborne Illness and Outbreak Investigation

Objectives:
• Distinguish between food infection and intoxication.
• Identify symptoms and high-risk populations.
• Explain the process of outbreak investigation.
• Discuss reporting and recall procedures.

Topics:
• Food infection vs. intoxication examples
• Major foodborne illnesses: symptoms and incubation
• High-risk foods and vulnerable groups
• Steps in outbreak investigation
• Role of health authorities and recall systems

Day 6: Control of Microorganisms: Temperature and Time

Objectives:
• Explain the importance of temperature control.
• Describe methods of heat processing (pasteurisation, sterilisation).
• Discuss cold storage and freezing principles.
• Apply the danger zone concept in food handling.

Topics:
• Temperature danger zone (5°C–60°C)
• Pasteurisation, sterilisation, and cooking temperatures
• Cooling, chilling, and freezing effects on microbes
• Time-temperature abuse and monitoring
• HACCP critical control points for temperature

Day 7: Control of Microorganisms: Chemical and Physical Methods

Objectives:
• List chemical preservatives and their modes of action.
• Explain physical methods: drying, irradiation, filtration.
• Describe the role of pH and water activity.
• Discuss sanitisation and disinfection in food premises.

Topics:
• Chemical preservatives: salt, sugar, acids, nitrites
• Physical methods: dehydration, irradiation, UV light
• Water activity and pH as control factors
• Cleaning vs. sanitising vs. sterilising
• Approved sanitisers and application methods

Day 8: HACCP and Microbiological Criteria

Objectives:
• Explain the HACCP principles and their application.
• Identify critical control points for microbiological hazards.
• Describe microbiological standards and testing.
• Discuss record-keeping and verification.

Topics:
• HACCP principles overview
• Hazard analysis for biological hazards
• Setting critical limits for microbes
• Microbiological criteria: pathogens, indicator organisms
• Sampling plans and testing methods

Day 9: Practical Application and Integration

Objectives:
• Apply microbiological principles to real-world scenarios.
• Develop a food safety plan for a handling environment.
• Evaluate case studies of foodborne outbreaks.
• Demonstrate understanding through assessment.

Topics:
• Scenario-based exercises: risk assessment
• Designing a food safety plan (HACCP-based)
• Case studies: prevention and corrective actions
• Review of key principles and regulations
• Summative assessment and feedback

Practicals

No practicals for this training.

This course is made up of exercises and case studies delivered alongside the theory — no separate practical sessions are required to complete it.

Summatives

Each delegate is assessed continuously throughout the course and a final summative test at the end.

Daily Exercises — 30%

Every training day ends with a multiple-choice exercise scored out of 100%. The scores from each daily exercise are averaged across the duration of the course to produce a Daily Average mark, which contributes 30% to the final total.

Final Test — 70%

On the last day a final summative test is written. It is a multiple-choice paper with multiple-answer questions: each question may have more than one correct option, and a single wrong selection on a question marks the entire question wrong — no partial credit. The final test is scored out of 100% and contributes 70% to the overall mark.

Final Total
Component Out of Weight
Daily Average (multiple choice) 100% 30%
Final Test (multi-answer multiple choice) 100% 70%
Final Total 100%

All marks are recorded on the AATICD LMS and visible to each learner under their account.

Certificate

Certificate of Completion

Awarded to delegates who achieve an overall mark of 50% or higher on the Final Total (Daily Average 30% + Final Test 70%).

How it works
  • Certificates are auto-generated on the AATICD LMS as soon as the marks pass the 50% threshold.
  • Each certificate is a branded PDF with the delegate's name, the course title, the unit standard ID, NQF level, credits, and the date of issue.
  • You can download or print your certificate from your LMS dashboard at any time after issue — there's no reissue fee and no expiry date.
  • If you scored under 50% you can sit the final test again at the next scheduled session at no extra cost.
Where to find it

Sign in to the LMS, open your dashboard, and your certificates appear under My Certificates. Each entry has a View / Download button and a print option.

Training Discounts

Group discounts apply automatically — the more delegates you enrol, the greater the saving. Discounts are calculated at 3% per 5 delegates, scaling up to 40% off for 100+ delegates.

Delegates Discount
5 3% off
10 6% off
15 9% off
20 12% off
25 15% off
30 18% off
50 30% off
75 35% off
100 40% off

3% discount per 5 delegates, up to 40% off for 100+ delegates. Contact us for a custom group quote.

Upcoming Training Sessions
Online training — attend live sessions from anywhere via our virtual classroom.
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Wed 09 Sep 2026 Mon 21 Sep 2026 Virtual Spring 2026 $1,798 Register
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Fri 31 Dec 2027 Wed 12 Jan 2028 Virtual Summer 2027 $1,798 Register
Thu 20 Jan 2028 Tue 01 Feb 2028 Virtual Summer 2027 $1,798 Register
On-Campus training — face-to-face sessions at our training venues across Africa and beyond.
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Wed 07 Oct 2026 Mon 19 Oct 2026 Your Premises Spring 2026 $2,338 Register
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Tue 23 Mar 2027 Fri 02 Apr 2027 Your Premises Autumn 2027 $2,338 Register
Mon 14 Jun 2027 Thu 24 Jun 2027 Your Premises Winter 2027 $2,338 Register
Fri 09 Jul 2027 Wed 21 Jul 2027 Your Premises Winter 2027 $2,338 Register
Thu 29 Jul 2027 Tue 10 Aug 2027 Your Premises Winter 2027 $2,338 Register
Wed 15 Sep 2027 Mon 27 Sep 2027 Your Premises Spring 2027 $2,338 Register
Tue 05 Oct 2027 Fri 15 Oct 2027 Your Premises Spring 2027 $2,338 Register
Mon 25 Oct 2027 Thu 04 Nov 2027 Your Premises Spring 2027 $2,338 Register
Tue 14 Dec 2027 Fri 24 Dec 2027 Your Premises Summer 2027 $2,338 Register
Mon 03 Jan 2028 Thu 13 Jan 2028 Your Premises Summer 2027 $2,338 Register
Fri 28 Jan 2028 Wed 09 Feb 2028 Your Premises Summer 2027 $2,338 Register
Training Discounts
Delegates Discount
5 3% off
10 6% off
15 9% off
20 12% off
25 15% off
30 18% off
50 30% off
75 35% off
100 40% off

3% off per 5 delegates, up to 40% for 100+

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