The UK Food Information Amendment - Natasha's Law - will come into force in October 2021. An important development in helping prevent the serious effects of food allergies, this law deals with labelling products that have been packed on premises ready for sale. It was brought into force to strengthen the 2014 Food Information to Consumers legislation and followed a period of dedicated campaigning by the parents of Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, who tragically lost her life after eating a sandwich containing sesame. At the time, foods prepared in house and packaged for later sale were not required to be labelled individually.
Who does it affect?
The law applies to any business that is preparing, packing and selling food from the same premises, or food that is packed and then sold from a mobile stall or vehicle.
When does it come into force?
The law was created in September 2019 and comes into force in October 2021 throughout the UK.
When will Natasha's Law apply in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland authorities have confirmed that the law will affect the whole of the UK from October 2021.
What foods are covered by the new law?
Any food which is Pre-Packed for Direct Sale (PPDS); that means in-house, wrapped or placed in packaging and then put on display. This could include products like sandwiches, salads, snacks and cakes. To check if you sell products that are classed as PPDS, use this tool created by the FSA.
What must we do?
All PPDS products will need to be clearly labelled with the name of the food and a full list of all ingredients. Any named allergens (from the 14 named allergens list) must be highlighted within the ingredients list, for example by printing them in bold, italics or a different colour.
What are the penalties for non-compliance?
Businesses failing to follow the new rules could face a fine of up to £5,000 per offence. But more importantly, the damage to the reputation of your business if a serious allergy incident occurs is almost impossible to calculate.
What else should I think about?
The death of Natasha Ednan-Laperouse highlights the importance of food allergen awareness within all food businesses. Any business that sells or is planning to sell pre-packed foods would be sensible to consider their operations and processes now, in order to allow all required changes to be in place and tested before October 2021.
As well as considering the physical labelling requirements, food businesses will also need to think about your production process and staff training implications. It is vital that your business has a clear allergen policy, which allows both staff and customers to understand any risks that are present to allergy sufferers. Staff must fully understand any processes that they are expected to undertake regarding creating meals that fulfil any allergy-free claims you make, and those who communicate with customers must be able to do so truthfully and confidently.
Whilst the new law makes information more readily available and therefore easier for staff to communicate accurate information, the key message for all staff in food preparation is the importance of consistency in and clear communication of ingredients and recipes. Allergen training, whether in-house or with certified training courses, is a vital step in keeping your customers, staff and your business safe.
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