Natasha's Law Compliant Labelling: The Complete Guide for Food Businesses

Natasha's Law, formally known as the Food Information (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2019, came into force on 1 October 2021 and fundamentally changed allergen labelling requirements for food businesses across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Named after Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, who died from an allergic reaction to a Pret A Manger baguette containing sesame, this legislation closed a critical gap in food safety law.

For food supplement businesses, manufacturers, and retailers, understanding and implementing Natasha's Law is not optional — it is a legal requirement with serious consequences for non-compliance.

What Is Natasha's Law?

Natasha's Law requires that all food that is prepacked for direct sale (PPDS) must carry a label listing the food name and a full ingredients list with the 14 UK major allergens emphasised (typically in bold). Before this law, PPDS food was exempt from ingredient labelling requirements, creating a dangerous blind spot for consumers with food allergies.

PPDS Definition: Food that is packaged at the same premises from which it is sold (or from a mobile unit or temporary premises), before being offered to the consumer. This includes sandwiches made and wrapped in-store, bakery items packaged on-site, and food supplements packaged at the point of sale.

The 14 UK Major Allergens

Under UK Food Information Regulations 2014 and Natasha's Law, the following 14 allergens must be declared and emphasised on all PPDS food labels:

Our Allergen Checker [blocked] identifies all 14 allergens using a database of 407 ingredient synonyms, catching allergens even when listed under alternative chemical or trade names.

Who Does Natasha's Law Apply To?

Natasha's Law applies to all food businesses that sell PPDS food, including:

• Bakeries that package bread, cakes, or pastries on-site before sale
• Sandwich shops and cafes that wrap food before displaying it
• Delis and farm shops that pre-package cheese, meats, or prepared foods
• Food supplement retailers who package capsules, powders, or tablets at the point of sale
• Market stall operators who pre-wrap food items
• Catering businesses supplying pre-packaged meals

What About Food Supplements?

Food supplements that are manufactured and packaged off-site (i.e., at a factory) and then sold at retail are classified as pre-packed food, not PPDS. These products were already required to carry full ingredient lists with allergen declarations under the Food Information Regulations 2014.

However, if you package food supplements on your own premises before selling them — for example, filling capsules and bagging them in-store, or creating custom supplement blends packaged at point of sale — these are PPDS and fall under Natasha's Law.

Labelling Requirements Under Natasha's Law

Every PPDS product must display:

1. The name of the food — a clear, accurate description (e.g., "Vitamin D3 Capsules 1000IU")
2. A full ingredients list — listing all ingredients in descending order of weight
3. Allergen emphasis — all 14 allergens must be emphasised within the ingredients list, typically using bold text

Best Practice for Allergen Emphasis

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) recommends:

• Use bold text for allergen names within the ingredients list
• List allergens by their common name (e.g., "milk" not just "lactose")
• Include a "Contains" statement if allergens are present but not obvious from the ingredient name
• Consider adding "May contain" statements for cross-contamination risks (voluntary but recommended)

Enforcement and Penalties

Local authority Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) and Trading Standards officers enforce Natasha's Law. Penalties for non-compliance include:

• Improvement notices requiring corrective action within a specified timeframe
• Prohibition orders preventing sale of non-compliant products
• Fixed penalty notices for minor breaches
• Criminal prosecution for serious or repeated offences, with unlimited fines
• Imprisonment of up to two years for the most serious offences under the Food Safety Act 1990

In cases where a consumer suffers harm due to undeclared allergens, businesses may also face civil liability claims and reputational damage that can be devastating for small businesses.

Common Compliance Mistakes

Many food businesses make avoidable errors when implementing Natasha's Law:

1. Incomplete Ingredient Lists

Failing to list every ingredient, including compound ingredients and processing aids. Every component must be declared, even if present in small quantities.

2. Missing Allergen Emphasis

Listing allergens but not emphasising them in bold. The regulations specifically require allergens to be visually distinct from other ingredients.

3. Using Trade Names Instead of Allergen Names

Listing "casein" without identifying it as derived from milk, or "krill oil" without flagging it as a crustacean product.

4. Ignoring Cross-Contamination

Not declaring potential cross-contamination from shared production lines or equipment. While "may contain" statements are voluntary, they are strongly recommended by the FSA.

5. Outdated Labels

Not updating labels when recipes or suppliers change. A new ingredient may introduce an allergen that was not previously present.

How Our Platform Helps

Our Allergen Checker [blocked] is specifically designed to catch the compliance mistakes listed above:

• 407 synonym matching — identifies allergens even when listed under chemical, trade, or alternative names
• Automatic bold formatting — our Label Builder [blocked] automatically emphasises all detected allergens in bold
• Cross-contamination warnings — flags ingredients commonly associated with cross-contamination risks
• Multi-allergen detection — scans for all 14 UK allergens simultaneously
• Ingredient ordering validation — ensures ingredients are listed in correct descending weight order

Combined with our Label Compliance Checker [blocked], you can verify that your labels meet all mandatory information requirements under both Natasha's Law and the Food Information Regulations 2014.

Step-by-Step Compliance Checklist

Follow this checklist to ensure your PPDS food labels are fully compliant:

1. Identify all PPDS products in your range
2. List every ingredient for each product, including compound ingredients
3. Cross-reference against the 14 allergens — use our Allergen Checker [blocked] for automated detection
4. Emphasise allergens in bold within the ingredients list
5. Add the food name clearly and accurately
6. Review for cross-contamination risks and add "may contain" statements where appropriate
7. Train all staff on allergen awareness and labelling procedures
8. Implement a review process for any recipe or supplier changes
9. Keep records of all allergen assessments for audit purposes
10. Regularly audit labels using our AI Label Audit [blocked] tool

Further Reading and Authority Resources

• FSA: Allergen Labelling for Food Manufacturers — Official guidance on allergen labelling requirements
• FSA: Natasha's Law Guidance — Detailed guidance on PPDS requirements
• UK Food Information Regulations 2014 — The primary legislation governing food labelling
• Food Safety Act 1990 — Enforcement framework for food safety offences

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This article is published by Specialist Label Compliance, a UK-based food compliance technology company with over 30 years of industry experience. Our platform helps food businesses check labels against UK, EU, and US regulations. Try our Allergen Checker [blocked] to verify your products are Natasha's Law compliant.

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• UK Food Supplement Labelling Requirements 2026 [blocked]
• Allergen Labelling Guide for Food Supplements [blocked]
• The Complete Guide to Food Supplement Label Compliance [blocked]
• UK Nutrition Labels & HFSS Ad Bans in 2026 [blocked]