Level 2 Food Hygiene Practice Test 2026: Practice test 2

1. Question 1 of 25

   What are the four main types of food contamination?

   • AHot, cold, wet and dry
   • BMicrobiological, chemical, physical and allergenic
   • CRaw, cooked, frozen and canned
   • DSweet, salty, sour and bitter
   Show answer

   Answer: B. Microbiological, chemical, physical and allergenic

   Contamination can come from germs, chemicals, objects or allergens.

2. Question 2 of 25

   Which of these is physical contamination?

   • ASalmonella in raw chicken
   • BA piece of blue plaster in a soup
   • CBleach on a chopping board
   • DPeanut traces in a dessert
   Show answer

   Answer: B. A piece of blue plaster in a soup

   Objects such as plasters, glass, hair and jewellery are physical contaminants. Catering plasters are often blue so they are easy to see.

3. Question 3 of 25

   Which of these is chemical contamination?

   • AA fly in a salad
   • BCleaning spray used near open food
   • CMould on bread
   • DA hair in the soup
   Show answer

   Answer: B. Cleaning spray used near open food

   Store and use chemicals away from food to prevent chemical contamination.

4. Question 4 of 25

   Which bacterium is the most common cause of bacterial food poisoning in the UK and is often found on raw poultry?

   • ALegionella
   • BCampylobacter
   • CBacillus anthracis
   • DClostridium botulinum
   Show answer

   Answer: B. Campylobacter

   Campylobacter is commonly found on raw chicken. Do not wash raw chicken, as splashing spreads the bacteria.

5. Question 5 of 25

   Which bacterium can grow at fridge temperatures, making it a risk in chilled ready-to-eat food?

   • ACampylobacter
   • BClostridium perfringens
   • CBacillus cereus
   • DListeria monocytogenes
   Show answer

   Answer: D. Listeria monocytogenes

   Listeria can grow slowly in the fridge, so chilled ready-to-eat foods must be kept cold and used by their use-by date.

6. Question 6 of 25

   Which bacterium is linked to cooked rice that is kept warm for too long?

   • AListeria
   • BE. coli O157
   • CBacillus cereus
   • DCampylobacter
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Bacillus cereus

   Bacillus cereus forms spores that survive cooking and can make toxins in warm rice.

7. Question 7 of 25

   Which bacterium is linked to large pots of stews and gravies that are cooled too slowly?

   • ACampylobacter
   • BStaphylococcus aureus
   • CClostridium perfringens
   • DListeria
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Clostridium perfringens

   Clostridium perfringens grows in large, slowly cooled dishes. Cool food quickly and reheat it thoroughly.

8. Question 8 of 25

   Which bacterium is often carried on people's skin, nose and cuts?

   • ABacillus cereus
   • BListeria
   • CCampylobacter
   • DStaphylococcus aureus
   Show answer

   Answer: D. Staphylococcus aureus

   Good personal hygiene and covering cuts help stop Staphylococcus aureus reaching food.

9. Question 9 of 25

   E. coli O157 is a particular risk when what happens?

   • ARaw meat or dirty vegetables contaminate ready-to-eat food
   • BFood is cooked to 75°C
   • CFood is frozen at −18°C
   • DBread is toasted
   Show answer

   Answer: A. Raw meat or dirty vegetables contaminate ready-to-eat food

   E. coli O157 can cause serious illness from a very small dose, so raw and ready-to-eat foods must be kept strictly apart.

10. Question 10 of 25

    Which virus is a common cause of vomiting and diarrhoea outbreaks and spreads easily from sick food handlers?

    • AInfluenza
    • BChickenpox
    • CNorovirus
    • DRabies
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Norovirus

    Norovirus spreads easily through hands, surfaces and food. Sick staff must stay away from work.

11. Question 11 of 25

    What do most food poisoning bacteria need to multiply?

    • AFood, moisture, warmth and time
    • BSalt and vinegar
    • CCold and dryness
    • DLight, air and noise
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Food, moisture, warmth and time

    Take away warmth or time, and bacteria cannot multiply fast enough to cause harm.

12. Question 12 of 25

    How do bacteria multiply?

    • ABy laying eggs
    • BBy splitting in two (binary fission)
    • CBy growing seeds
    • DThey do not multiply
    Show answer

    Answer: B. By splitting in two (binary fission)

    In good conditions, bacteria can split in two about every 10 to 20 minutes.

13. Question 13 of 25

    What are spores?

    • AA type of food allergen
    • BA resting form of some bacteria that can survive cooking
    • CBacteria that have died
    • DA type of mould only
    Show answer

    Answer: B. A resting form of some bacteria that can survive cooking

    Spores can survive high temperatures and start growing again if food is left warm.

14. Question 14 of 25

    What are high-risk foods?

    • AFoods with a long shelf life such as tinned beans
    • BDry foods like rice and pasta before cooking
    • CFoods that are very spicy
    • DReady-to-eat foods in which bacteria can grow easily, such as cooked meat and dairy desserts
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Ready-to-eat foods in which bacteria can grow easily, such as cooked meat and dairy desserts

    High-risk foods are usually moist, high in protein and eaten without further cooking.

15. Question 15 of 25

    Why should raw chicken not be washed before cooking?

    • AIt removes the flavour
    • BIt is a waste of water only
    • CIt makes the chicken tough
    • DSplashing water spreads bacteria such as Campylobacter around the kitchen
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Splashing water spreads bacteria such as Campylobacter around the kitchen

    Washing raw chicken does not make it safe; cooking does. Splashes spread bacteria onto nearby surfaces.

16. Question 16 of 25

    In England, what is the legal maximum temperature for keeping chilled food that needs temperature control?

    • A5°C
    • B12°C
    • C8°C
    • D15°C
    Show answer

    Answer: C. 8°C

    The Food Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013 make it an offence to keep such food above 8°C, with limited exceptions.

17. Question 17 of 25

    What is the minimum temperature for hot holding food in England?

    • A60°C
    • B55°C
    • C50°C
    • D63°C
    Show answer

    Answer: D. 63°C

    Cooked or reheated food kept hot for service must be held at 63°C or above.

18. Question 18 of 25

    In this diagram, which marker shows the danger zone where bacteria grow?

    • AMarker 1
    • BMarker 4
    • CMarker 2
    • DMarker 3
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Marker 2

    Marker 2 is the red band between 8°C and 63°C.

19. Question 19 of 25

    In this diagram, what does marker 4 show?

    • A63°C, the hot holding minimum
    • B8°C, the chill limit
    • C100°C, the boiling point
    • D75°C, a core temperature commonly used to check cooking and reheating
    Show answer

    Answer: D. 75°C, a core temperature commonly used to check cooking and reheating

    Marker 4 is the green line at 75°C, a core temperature many UK caterers use to check food is cooked or reheated thoroughly.

20. Question 20 of 25

    In England, hot food may be kept below 63°C for service or display for less than how long, once only?

    • A6 hours
    • B4 hours
    • C2 hours
    • D8 hours
    Show answer

    Answer: C. 2 hours

    The law allows a single period of less than two hours below 63°C; after that the food must be reheated or thrown away.

21. Question 21 of 25

    In England, chilled food may be displayed above 8°C once, for less than how long?

    • A1 hour
    • B12 hours
    • C8 hours
    • D4 hours
    Show answer

    Answer: D. 4 hours

    A single period of less than four hours on display above 8°C is allowed.

22. Question 22 of 25

    What core temperature is widely used in UK catering to check that food is cooked thoroughly?

    • A75°C
    • B50°C
    • C60°C
    • D63°C
    Show answer

    Answer: A. 75°C

    Food safety packs such as Safer food, better business use probe checks to confirm food is cooked thoroughly, and 75°C is the core temperature commonly used.

23. Question 23 of 25

    In Scotland, food that has been cooked and is reheated for immediate sale must reach at least what temperature?

    • A75°C
    • B82°C
    • C70°C
    • D63°C
    Show answer

    Answer: B. 82°C

    The Food Hygiene (Scotland) Regulations 2006 require reheated food to reach not less than 82°C, unless this would spoil its quality.

24. Question 24 of 25

    What does Scottish law say about how chilled food must be kept?

    • ABelow 8°C by law, exactly as in England
    • BIn a refrigerator, refrigerating chamber or cool ventilated place
    • CIn direct sunlight
    • DAt room temperature
    Show answer

    Answer: B. In a refrigerator, refrigerating chamber or cool ventilated place

    Scotland's rules do not set a single number for chilling. Food must be kept in a fridge or a cool ventilated place.

25. Question 25 of 25

    In Scotland, hot food kept for service must be held at what temperature?

    • AAbove 40°C
    • BAbove 50°C
    • CAbove 63°C
    • DAbove 30°C
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Above 63°C

    Scottish law requires hot food to be kept above 63°C.

Keyboard: 1–4 to answer, Enter for the next question.

The real test: Set by your training provider. The law requires food handlers to be supervised and trained, not to hold a certificate.