Confused about food labelling?
It seems that it has become a bit of a minefield for most food businesses. Particularly with the food labelling laws changing on 1st October 2021 when Natasha’s Law under the amended regulations will come into force in the UK.
There has been lots of advice and information available on how businesses can get ready. However don’t worry if you are at the last minute and need some help. Use my beginner’s guide with 10 handy tips which hopefully will make things ‘as easy as pie’
Why are there different rules for labelling different types of food?
As a consumer you need to know what is in the food you are are eating. This is because you may have a food allergy or require nutritional information etc. It all depends on how the customer can obtain this information to what the label needs to say. Essentially if there is someone in the business a customer can ask about the food they are eating or purchasing then less information is required to be on the label.Loose or non pre-packed food
This is food that is served in a restaurant/cafe or food that is not in packaging when the customer orders it or is packaged at the customers request after they order Examples are:- restaurant meals
- a deli sandwich ordered and put in a bag at the customer’s request,
- a pizza slice displayed on a tray or
- battered fish in a glass display
Pre-packed Food for Direct Sale [PPDS]
The new rules for pre-packed for direct sale food are detailed in the amended regulations called Natasha’s Law. This is food that is made onsite and packaged before being offered for sale on the same premises. Label the food with the name of the food, and a full ingredients list with allergens emphasized on it. Examples are:- a pre-packed sandwich or salad made on site and displayed in a chiller,
- a pizza made in a supermarket and packaged and displayed.
- a burger in a fast food restaurant that is packed before it is ordered often at busy times
- food sold in a mobile but made and packaged by the same business