The Food Standards Agency has been in touch to outline forthcoming changes to the rules on how certain foods are labelled for allergens.
If you are a food business operating in the Brentwood and Ongar constituency you may be affected by the changes. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is offering these businesses support to help them provide the best protection for any customers with food hypersensitivities.
On 1 October 2021, the law on allergen labelling for foods prepacked for direct sale (PPDS) will change. Any food business selling PPDS foods will have to include full ingredients on the product label with allergenic ingredients emphasised within that list. This was agreed by Parliament in 2019 with a two-year implementation period to help businesses prepare. These rule changes, known as ‘Natasha’s Law’, are being introduced following the death of teenager Natasha Ednan-Laperouse from an allergic reaction caused by a prepacked baguette which, at the time, did not require allergen labelling.
The FSA knows there will be a significant impact on many businesses and, with less than three months to go, wants to make sure they are supported in making these changes. It has launched a PPDS Hub that includes existing information on PPDS, as well as new labelling guidance for PPDS foods and new guides that will be helpful to specific sectors including bakery, butchers, fast food and takeaways, mobile sellers, restaurants, cafes and pubs, and schools.
The guides each give practical information on PPDS and how these changes could impact a food business.