I run a small club and we serve tea, cakes and biscuits to members. do we need to follow food hygiene regulations?
If you run a club, or similar small group, and provide food to members at meetings or other events, then you might have to comply with food safety and hygiene legislation. This is still the case if you don’t make a profit from the refreshments. There isn’t a straightforward answer to which clubs are covered by the regulations and which aren’t, because this could depend on a number of things. If you serve refreshments to a few friends at home, then the regulations probably wouldn’t apply, because food prepared at home for domestic purposes is exempt. If, for example, your club is more formally organised, meetings are held in a rented building rather than at home, or there is a charge for membership, then food safety and hygiene legislation might apply to you. Local authorities are in the best position to determine whether the legislation applies to clubs, according to individual circumstances. You might also need to register with your local authority if you meet frequently and provide f
