Official guidance for Nastaha’s Law published

Presently, food businesses can provide mandatory allergen information for prepacked for direct sale (PPDS) food by any means they choose, including orally by a member of staff. As of 1 October 2021 this will change.

According to the The Food Standards Agency (FSA), evidence suggests that some consumers find it difficult to distinguish between prepacked and PPDS foods. Thus, some assume that the absence of allergen information on PPDS foods means that food allergens are not contained in the product when in fact, they very well could.

The legislation around Food Information Regulations (FIR), and the equivalent law in Wales and Northern Ireland, will therefore see amendments which aim to offer further clarity to consumers when purchasing PPDS foods.  

The changes mean that starting from 1 October 2021, PPDS food will require a label with an ingredients list and the allergens contained emphasised on the list.

The new law has been introduced after a UK-wide consultation following the death of Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, who suffered a fatal allergic reaction after eating a baguette that contained sesame seeds.

The new requirements only apply to food known as PPDS, which is packaged onsite by a business before a customer selects or orders it from the same premises.

The FSA has stated it will be “engaging with industry, enforcement authorities over the coming months to raise awareness with business as they work towards implementing the new requirements that come into effect later next year.”

Read the FSA updated technical guidance for allergen labelling here.