# Food Information Regulations 2014

Canonical: https://paddl-ai.co/regulations/food-information-regulations-2014

Understand the Food Information Regulations 2014 (implementing EU FIC 1169/2011), which require food businesses to provide allergen information and clear food labelling.

Effective: 2014-12-13 (last amended 2021-10-01)
Enforced by: Local Authority Trading Standards and Environmental Health
Applies to: All food businesses selling or providing food, Restaurants, cafes, and takeaways, Hotels and pubs, Food manufacturers and retailers, Online food delivery services

The Food Information Regulations 2014 (SI 2014/1855) implement Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on the provision of food information to consumers in England. Equivalent regulations apply across the UK. The regulations require food businesses to provide specific information about the food they sell, most critically the presence of any of the 14 allergens specified in Annex II of the EU regulation. For non-prepacked food sold in restaurants, cafes, and other catering establishments, businesses must be able to provide allergen information to customers at the point of sale. The regulations also cover labelling requirements for prepacked food including ingredients lists, nutritional declarations, and origin labelling. These regulations were amended in 2021 by the implementation of Natashas Law, which introduced new requirements for prepacked for direct sale (PPDS) food.

## Key requirements

- **Allergen information for non-prepacked food** Businesses selling non-prepacked (loose) food must provide information about the presence of any of the 14 specified allergens. This can be communicated verbally, but there must be a system in place to direct customers to where they can find this information.
- **14 specified allergens must be declared** The 14 allergens are: celery, cereals containing gluten, crustaceans, eggs, fish, lupin, milk, molluscs, mustard, peanuts, sesame, soybeans, sulphur dioxide/sulphites (above 10mg/kg), and tree nuts.
- **Prepacked food labelling** Prepacked food must include a full ingredients list with allergens emphasised (typically in bold), a nutritional declaration, name and address of the food business operator, net quantity, date marking, and storage conditions.
- **Distance selling requirements** Food sold online or by phone must have mandatory food information available before the purchase is completed, and all mandatory particulars must be available at the moment of delivery.
- **Staff must be able to provide allergen information** If allergen information is not displayed in writing, staff must be trained and able to direct customers to where they can access it. Signposting (e.g. "Ask staff about allergens") is commonly used.

## What a business has to do

1. **Create and maintain an allergen matrix** Document every dish on your menu against all 14 allergens. Update whenever recipes change or new dishes are added.
2. **Train all staff on allergen communication** Ensure front-of-house and kitchen staff understand the 14 allergens, how to check for them, and how to communicate with customers who have allergies.
3. **Display allergen signposting** If you provide allergen information verbally, display a notice such as "If you have a food allergy, please speak to a member of staff before ordering."
4. **Review supplier ingredient information** Check ingredient lists from suppliers for allergen content. Keep records of ingredient specifications for all bought-in products.
5. **Update allergen records when recipes change** Whenever you change a recipe, substitute an ingredient, or introduce a new dish, immediately update your allergen matrix and inform staff.

## Penalties

| Offence | Penalty |
| --- | --- |
| Failure to provide allergen information | An unlimited fine on summary conviction. In cases where failure to provide information leads to injury or death, prosecution under the Food Safety Act 1990 can result in up to 2 years imprisonment. |
| Providing false or misleading allergen information | Prosecution under Section 15 of the Food Safety Act 1990 for false food descriptions. Unlimited fine and potentially up to 2 years imprisonment on indictment. |
| Non-compliance with labelling requirements for prepacked food | An unlimited fine on summary conviction. Trading Standards may also issue improvement notices or withdraw products from sale. |

## Questions

**Do I have to display allergen information in writing?**

No, for non-prepacked food you can provide allergen information verbally. However, you must have a written notice directing customers to ask staff, and you must have a documented system for identifying allergens in your food.

**What are the 14 allergens I need to declare?**

The 14 specified allergens are: celery, cereals containing gluten (wheat, rye, barley, oats), crustaceans, eggs, fish, lupin, milk, molluscs, mustard, peanuts, sesame, soybeans, sulphur dioxide and sulphites (at concentrations above 10mg/kg), and tree nuts (almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, cashews, pecans, Brazil nuts, pistachios, macadamia nuts).

**Does this apply to online food delivery?**

Yes. If you sell food online (including via delivery platforms), allergen information must be available before the customer completes their purchase and must also accompany the food at the point of delivery.

**How does this relate to Natashas Law?**

Natashas Law (which came into force on 1 October 2021) amended the Food Information Regulations to require businesses to provide full ingredients labelling with allergens emphasised on prepacked for direct sale (PPDS) food. This was a strengthening of the existing requirements for this specific food category.