Central Bedfordshire Council working with Food Standards Agency to help support businesses to prepare for upcoming allergen labelling changes
Tuesday, 20 July 2021
On 1 October 2021, the law on allergen labelling for prepacked for direct sale (PPDS) foods will change.
This means that any food business selling PPDS foods will have to include full ingredients on the product label with allergenic ingredients emphasised within that list.
Also known as ‘Natasha’s Law’, the changes come 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.
PPDS foods can include salads and sandwiches that customers select themselves as well as pre-wrapped foods kept behind a counter, as well as some products packaged and sold at mobile or temporary outlets.
Sushma Acharya, Head of Policy and Strategy for Food Hypersensitivity at the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has welcomed further support for businesses and said:
To help support food businesses, the FSA has launched a PPDS Hub featuring helpful information including new labelling guidance for PPDS foods and sector guides. The guides for bakery, butchers, fast food and takeaways, mobile sellers, restaurants, cafes and pubs, and schools each give practical information on PPDS and how these changes could impact a food business. As well as this, the FSA will be hosting a webinar for food businesses on 4 August. This webinar is open to business across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and will feature a range of speakers including business representatives who will talk more about what they've done to prepare for these changes and what they've learnt along the way.
Executive Member for Community Services, Councillor Ian Dalgarno said:
With less than 3 months to go, we are working with the FSA and are encouraging food businesses currently selling PPDS products to visit the FSA website and register for the food business webinar. It is important that businesses make full use of the information available ahead of the 1 October deadline.
If you cannot make the webinar, a recording will be made available on the PPDS Hub of the FSA website for you to view afterwards.