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FoSTaC: FSSAI Food Handler Training & Certificate Guide

Searching for a 'food handler licence' in India? What you actually need is FSSAI's FoSTaC training certificate. Here is who needs it, how to get it, and what it costs.

What is FoSTaC?

FoSTaC (Food Safety Training and Certification) is FSSAI's official training programme for people who handle food. It covers hygiene, safe food handling, contamination control, allergen awareness and FSSAI regulations. Completing an FoSTaC course makes you a certified Food Safety Supervisor.

India vs the US food handler's licence

In the US, every individual food worker needs a food handler's card. India works differently: the business holds the FSSAI licence, and FSSAI requires every licensed food business to have at least one FoSTaC-certified Food Safety Supervisor for every 25 food handlers. If you run a cloud kitchen with 4 staff, you need one certified supervisor — usually the owner or head cook.

FoSTaC course levels

  • Basic Food Safety (Level 1): For food handlers and small businesses — the one most cloud kitchens need.
  • Advance (Level 2) & Advance Manufacturing: For supervisors in larger operations, caterers and manufacturers.
  • Special courses: Milk, meat, packaged water, retail & distribution, street food, and more.
  • COVID-era hygiene modules are now folded into the standard curriculum.

How to get the certificate — step by step

  1. Go to the official FoSTaC portal: fostac.fssai.gov.in.
  2. Create a trainee account with your name, phone and Aadhaar-linked details.
  3. Choose a course (Basic Food Safety is right for most kitchens) and pick an online or classroom session from an FSSAI-empanelled trainer.
  4. Pay the fee (typically ₹500–2,000) and attend the 4–8 hour session.
  5. Pass the short assessment and download your certificate — valid for two years.

Other health requirements for kitchen staff

  • Annual medical fitness certificate for every food handler (checking for communicable diseases).
  • Keep vaccination records (typhoid especially) for staff — inspectors ask.
  • Display your FSSAI licence number prominently at the premises and on packaging.

Do not skip this

FoSTaC compliance is checked during FSSAI inspections, and aggregators increasingly ask for it during onboarding. It is cheap, takes one day, and a visible Food Safety Supervisor certificate builds customer trust. While you sort compliance, make sure your FSSAI licence itself is in place — or apply through FoSCoS — and list your kitchen on CloudKitchen Adda so customers can find you.

Frequently asked questions

Is FoSTaC training mandatory in India?

Yes. Every licensed food business in India must have at least one trained and certified Food Safety Supervisor for every 25 food handlers, as required by FSSAI. State food safety departments check this during inspections.

What is the Indian equivalent of a food handler's licence?

India does not issue individual food handler licences like the US. Instead, FSSAI requires the business to hold an FSSAI licence and to employ FoSTaC-certified Food Safety Supervisors. Handlers also need an annual medical fitness certificate.

How much does FoSTaC training cost?

Fees vary by course and trainer but are typically ₹500–2,000 per participant for basic courses. The certificate is valid for two years.

Can I do FoSTaC training online?

Many FoSTaC courses are available online through FSSAI-empanelled training partners listed on the official FoSTaC portal (fostac.fssai.gov.in). Always book through the official portal.

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