FDQ Foreign Body Prevention Course
1 Day Food Safety Training

Specialist food training courses

News:
  • Next Course Date: 1st June 2026
FDQ Foreign Body Prevention and Investigation

This course will give you the knowledge to identify, detect , investigate and prevent foreign body occurrences

Course Fee

£430 +VAT (per person)

Discounts available 2 places for £830 + VAT

Choose Date & Book

All course fees are payable in advance.

Course Details

Course Description

The presence of foreign bodies accounts for around 18% of product recalls in the UK. This course will give you the knowledge to identify, detect and investigate foreign body occurrences as well as putting into place preventative measures and training teams to drive continuous improvement in this area and reduce complaints. It covers all aspects, including intrinsic and extrinsic foreign bodies and different methods of removal, machinery commissioning and maintenance, pre-start-up checks, risk assessments and black bag audits, with discussions and exercises to consolidate learning.

Duration

1 day

Who Should Attend?

Food manufacturing supervisors, managers, engineers, internal auditors, hygiene operators and quality and technical departments will benefit from this training

Entry Requirements

No formal qualifications are required, but you should have a good understanding of food safety and manufacturing processes.

Course Delivery / Format

Classroom

Delivered face-to-face at our training centre in Skipton, North Yorkshire UK.

Remote

Delivered live and online, so you'll require a computer and internet connection. 

Full details and login information will be provided before the start of the course

Course Structure & Content

Course Content
  • What are Foreign Bodies?
  • Product Recalls
  • Legislation
  • Prevention in products – removal, detection
  • Foreign body investigations – one-offs and trends
  • How to implement foreign body improvement plans for trends
  • Developing foreign body teams
  • How to train foreign body prevention
  • How to monitor and drive continuous improvement

Learning Outcomes

By the close of the course, you will understand:

  • The different types of foreign bodies within a manufacturing environment and how to prevent and detect them
  • How to investigate foreign body issues and implement foreign body improvement plans within a food factory
  • The impact of foreign bodies on the business
  • How to develop and train foreign body prevention teams and other production staff
  • How to audit your foreign body prevention system
  • How to use techniques, trending and HACCP to control foreign bodies more effectively

Qualification / Assessment

There is a short multiple-choice test at the end of the day. Successful candidates will achieve the FDQ Foreign Body Prevention and Investigation Certificate.

Course Fee

£430 +VAT (per person)

Discounts available 2 places for £830 + VAT

Choose Date & Book

All course fees are payable in advance.

Course fee includes:
  • Course binder and notes
  • Lunch and refreshments*
  • Exam fee and FDQ certificate

* Classroom courses only

Course FAQ

This comprehensive one-day course focuses on foreign body contamination control in food manufacturing. It covers prevention strategies, investigation techniques, and complaint management, enabling delegates to implement effective control measures and conduct thorough root cause analyses of foreign body incidents.

The course is ideal for Quality Managers, Technical Managers, Production Managers, Food Safety Team Leaders, and anyone responsible for foreign body control, investigation, or complaint handling. It's suitable for those seeking to enhance their knowledge of contamination prevention and incident investigation protocols.

Key topics include understanding foreign body hazards and their sources, design and implementation of prevention programs, detection and control methods, investigation techniques and root cause analysis, complaint management procedures, legislation and enforcement action, and case study analysis of real-world incidents.

The course is delivered either face-to-face at the training centre in Skipton, North Yorkshire, UK, or remotely online. The remote option is delivered live via video conferencing and requires a computer with Internet connection. Full access details and login information are provided prior to the course start date.

Participants will develop the ability to identify foreign body hazards, design effective prevention programs, implement appropriate detection methods, conduct systematic investigations using root cause analysis, manage customer complaints professionally, and ensure compliance with food safety legislation and retailer requirements.

There is no formal examination for this course. However, attendees will receive a Verner Wheelock Associates certificate of attendance, demonstrating their enhanced knowledge and competence in foreign body prevention and investigation, which contributes to continuous professional development.

The course fee is £430 +VAT per person or £830 +VAT for 2 people. This includes comprehensive course materials and handouts, a course binder, lunch and refreshments for classroom attendees, and a VWA certificate of attendance upon completion.

Yes, the course includes analysis of actual foreign body incidents and case studies from the food industry. These practical examples help delegates understand investigation methodologies, learn from past incidents, and apply best practices to their own operations for improved contamination control.

TOP