‘Natasha’s Law’ was introduced on October 1, 2021, to protect allergy sufferers and give them confidence in the food they buy. The law’s guidance requires that a full ingredients list be included on the label of pre-packed for direct sale foods (PPDS), with the 14 major allergens emphasised/ highlighted in the list. The law was designed to help protect consumers by providing potentially life-saving allergen information on the packaging.
This specifically covers labelling requirements for foods that are prepared and packed on the same premises from which they are sold – such as packaged sandwiches or salad boxes.
Before selling, businesses need to check if their products require PPDS labelling and what they need to do to comply with the law.
The 14 major allergens are:
PPDS is food that is packaged at the same place it is sold (or offered) to consumers and is packaged before it is ordered or selected. It can include food that consumers choose themselves (e.g. from a display unit or cabinet), as well as products from behind a supermarket counter and includes some food sold at mobile or temporary outlets.
Examples of PPDS food, which may be provided by mobile traders or street food vendors and are covered by Natasha’s law, include:
Pre-packaged food packaged by one business and sold/offered by another is not PPDS food but still requires a label with a name, ingredients list, allergens and other mandatory details. PPDS also doesn’t include food that is not in packaging when ordered or food that is made to order before being placed in packaging.
Examples of food that is not PPDS can include:
Non-prepacked food does not require a label but must meet current requirements for providing information on the 14 major allergens. This can, however, simply be communicated by mouth or other means.
The labelling requirements no longer apply if you’re selling PPDS foods by distance - i.e., over the phone or Internet. You should, however, provide allergen information:
Hopefully, now you’ve got a better understanding of Natasha’s Law Guidance. You can discover more about the law on their website. If you’re keen to find out more about Access Point, however, you can learn more about us on our website or contact us for more information by calling 01704 544999 or emailing hello@apuk.net.
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