What is Natasha's Law in simple terms?

Since 1 October 2021, PPDS food sold in person needs the food name and full ingredients with allergenic ingredients emphasised. This includes food packed before selection and sold by the same business on the same premises, and eligible temporary or mobile outlets. Distance sales follow separate information rules.

Does Natasha's Law apply to made-to-order food?

No. Food packed after the customer orders it — such as a sandwich made to order — is not PPDS and does not need a full ingredient label, although you must still provide allergen information in another form, such as an allergen matrix.

Does Natasha's Law apply to home bakers?

Yes, if you pack food before it is ordered and sell it directly — for example boxed cupcakes sold at a market stall. Distance sales (e.g. items ordered online and delivered) follow different rules, but allergen information must still be provided before purchase and at delivery.

Guide · Natasha’s Law

Natasha's Law, explained for small food businesses

What the law actually requires, what counts as PPDS food, and exactly what has to be on your labels — in plain English.

What is Natasha's Law?

Natasha's Law is the common name for the UK food labelling rules that came into force on 1 October 2021, requiring full ingredient and allergen labelling on food that is prepacked for direct sale (PPDS). It is named after Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, a teenager who died in 2016 after an allergic reaction to sesame baked into a baguette — an ingredient that, under the rules at the time, did not have to be individually labelled because the food was packed on the premises where it was sold. The law closed that gap, and it applies across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

What counts as PPDS food?

Food packaged before the customer selects or orders it, and offered by the same business on the same premises, is normally PPDS. The packaging must enclose it so the food cannot be altered without opening or changing the packaging.

The same business can also pack food at one site and sell it at an eligible temporary or mobile outlet, such as its market stall or food van. Food packed by one business and supplied to another follows standard prepacked rules.

Loose food and food packed after ordering are non-prepacked, but still need allergen information. PPDS sold online or by phone has separate distance-selling requirements: allergen information before purchase and at delivery. See our PPDS scenario guide and official sources.

What must the label show?

The name of the food — specific enough to be meaningful ("Chicken & bacon mayonnaise sandwich", not just "Sandwich").
A full ingredients list in descending order of weight, exactly as for supermarket products.
The 14 regulated allergens emphasised within that list — usually bold, but italics, underline or a contrasting colour are also acceptable.

The label must be on the packaging itself, legible, and in English. See the full list of the 14 allergens you must emphasise.

What happens if you don't comply?

Allergen labelling is enforced by your local authority (Environmental Health and Trading Standards). Inspectors can issue improvement notices, and continued non-compliance can lead to prosecution and fines — quite apart from the reputational damage, and the real risk to customers, of getting allergen information wrong.

A practical compliance checklist

Walk your counter and chiller: list every item that's packed before the customer orders. Check each against the PPDS scenarios above.
For each item, write the full recipe as an ingredients list, checking supplier labels for hidden allergens (stock cubes, sauces and spice mixes are common culprits).
Check and print the required label for each PPDS pack, with allergenic ingredients emphasised.
Keep accurate information for food sold loose or made to order; a checked allergen matrix is one option.
Re-check labels every time a recipe or supplier changes.

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Requirements can change — check the Food Standards Agency's current guidance for your nation, and speak to your local Environmental Health team if you're unsure how the rules apply to you.

Doing this by hand every week?

Make a free ingredient-label draft with your checked wording. For recurring recipes, try Pro free for 7 days to save supplier ingredients and reuse recipes. No card needed; then £9/month only if you subscribe. Review affected labels whenever your supplier information or recipe changes.