Natasha’s law: New food allergy labelling rules start today

A new law on food labelling comes into effect today (Friday, October 1^st)  to help protect the estimated two million plus people living with a diagnosed food allergy in the UK.

The UK Food Information Amendment, known as Natasha’s Law, which requires more pre-packaged food such as takeaway sandwiches and salads to have their full ingredients listed is now being enacted in Wales, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

It means significant changes for labelling of food pre-packed for direct sale (PPDS).  PPDS is food which is packaged at the same place it is offered or sold to consumers and is in this packaging before it is ordered or selected.  It can include food that consumers select themselves (e.g. from a display unit), as well as products kept behind a counter and some food sold at mobile or temporary outlets.

The law is named after the late Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, who suffered a fatal allergic reaction aged just 15 after eating an “artichoke, olive and tapenade” baguette purchased at Pret a Manger in an airport while preparing for a holiday flight. 

Natasha had a sesame allergy but wasn’t aware that sesame seeds had been pre-baked into the bread.

Any food business selling PPDS food will now be required to label it with the name of the food and full list of ingredients with allergenic ingredients emphasised within the list.

Nathan Barnhouse, director of the Food Standards Agency in Wales said: “Food hypersensitivity is a priority for the FSA and our ambition is for the UK to become the best place in the world for people living with food hypersensitivities.

“The changes to labelling requirements for prepacked for direct sale (PPDS) food are a huge milestone for people living with food allergies and will help protect them by providing potentially life-saving allergen information on the packaging.”

(Lead image: Wikimedia / APCAMM)