# Natashas Law (Food Information Amendment 2019)

Canonical: https://paddl-ai.co/regulations/natashas-law

Learn about Natashas Law, which requires full ingredient and allergen labelling on prepacked for direct sale (PPDS) food in the UK, introduced after the death of Natasha Ednan-Laperouse.

Effective: 2021-10-01
Enforced by: Local Authority Environmental Health and Trading Standards
Applies to: Any business selling prepacked for direct sale food, Sandwich shops and delis, Bakeries, Hotel and cafe grab-and-go counters, School and hospital kitchens, Contract caterers

Natashas Law is the common name for the Food Information (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2019, which came into force on 1 October 2021. It was introduced following the death of Natasha Ednan-Laperouse in 2016 after she suffered an allergic reaction to sesame in a Pret a Manger baguette that did not carry allergen labelling. The law requires all food businesses that produce prepacked for direct sale (PPDS) food to label it with a full ingredients list, with the 14 specified allergens clearly emphasised. PPDS food is food that is packaged at the same premises from which it is sold, before a customer selects or orders it. Common examples include sandwiches made and wrapped in a cafe, boxed salads in a hotel grab-and-go counter, or pastries wrapped in a bakery. The law is also informally known as Owens Law following the death of Owen Carey in 2017 from an allergic reaction to buttermilk in a restaurant.

## Key requirements

- **Full ingredients list on PPDS food** All prepacked for direct sale food must carry a label listing every ingredient used in the product.
- **Allergens must be emphasised** Any of the 14 specified allergens present in the ingredients must be emphasised on the label, typically by using bold, italics, or a different colour.
- **Name of the food must be included** The label must include the name of the food product so the customer can identify what it is.
- **Labels must be accurate and up to date** If a recipe changes or a substitute ingredient is used, labels must be updated immediately to reflect the actual ingredients.

## What a business has to do

1. **Identify which of your products are PPDS** Determine which items you prepare, package, and sell on the same premises. These are the items that need full ingredient labelling.
2. **Create ingredient lists for all PPDS items** Document full ingredients for every PPDS product. Cross-reference against the 14 allergens and ensure they are emphasised.
3. **Implement a labelling system** Set up a reliable method for producing and applying labels, whether printed labels, handwritten labels, or a digital labelling system.
4. **Train staff on PPDS labelling requirements** Ensure all kitchen and front-of-house staff understand what PPDS means, how to label correctly, and the importance of updating labels when recipes change.
5. **Set up a process for recipe changes** Create a procedure so that any time an ingredient is substituted or a recipe is modified, labels are immediately updated.
6. **Keep records of ingredients and suppliers** Maintain records of ingredient specifications from suppliers so you can verify allergen content and trace ingredients if needed.

## Penalties

| Offence | Penalty |
| --- | --- |
| Failure to label PPDS food with ingredients and allergens | Prosecution under food safety legislation with an unlimited fine. Enforcement action can include improvement notices, product withdrawal, and hygiene emergency prohibition. |
| Providing inaccurate allergen labelling | Unlimited fine and potential imprisonment. Where inaccurate labelling causes injury or death, prosecution for manslaughter or corporate manslaughter may also be considered. |
| Failure to maintain labelling records | Improvement notices from the local authority, with prosecution for non-compliance with the notice carrying an unlimited fine. |

## Questions

**What counts as prepacked for direct sale (PPDS)?**

PPDS food is food that has been packaged at the same premises from which it is being sold, before a specific customer orders or selects it. Examples include sandwiches made and wrapped in a cafe, sealed salad boxes in a deli, or individually wrapped pastries in a bakery.

**Does Natashas Law apply to food made to order?**

No. Food that is made or packaged after a customer orders it is not PPDS. However, you still need to provide allergen information under the Food Information Regulations 2014 for non-prepacked food.

**Do I need to include nutritional information on PPDS labels?**

No. Natashas Law only requires the food name, a full ingredients list, and allergens emphasised. Nutritional declarations are not required for PPDS food under this legislation.

**When did Natashas Law come into force?**

Natashas Law came into force on 1 October 2021 in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Scotland introduced equivalent requirements at the same time.