Natasha's Law: PPDS allergen labelling in the UK, and how it differs from the EU
By the Menulta editorial team · Facts checked 15 October 2026 · Updated 15 October 2026
The short answer
Natasha's Law is the name commonly used for the UK rules, in force since 1 October 2021, that require food prepacked for direct sale (PPDS) to carry the name of the food and a full ingredients list with the 14 allergens emphasised. PPDS food is packed on the same premises where it is sold, before the customer orders, such as sandwiches, salads and pastries wrapped in the morning and sold over the counter. Within the EU, food prepacked for direct sale is treated as non-prepacked under Article 44, so national rules decide what is needed.
Why the law was introduced
The law is named after Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, who died in 2016 after an allergic reaction to sesame in a baguette bought from a food outlet. The baguette was made and packed on the premises, and at the time such food did not need an ingredients label in the UK. Her family's campaign led to the change in the law in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
What PPDS food is
Prepacked for direct sale means food packaged at the same place it is offered or sold to consumers, and in that packaging before it is ordered or selected. It can also cover food packed by a business and sold from a mobile or temporary outlet of the same business, such as a market stall or food truck it operates.
| Example | PPDS? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Sandwiches made and wrapped in the morning, sold from a chiller | Yes | Packed on site before the customer selects them |
| Burger wrapped after the customer orders | No | Packed at the customer's request: non-prepacked |
| Pastries in a self-service display, not wrapped | No | Loose food: non-prepacked |
| Salad boxes packed in a central kitchen and delivered to other shops | No | Prepacked food: needs full labelling as standard |
| Food packed and sold at the same business's market stall | Usually yes | Same business, packed before selection |
What a PPDS label must show
- The name of the food.
- A full ingredients list, in descending order of weight.
- The 14 allergens emphasised within the ingredients list, for example in bold.
- Labelling that meets the legibility and presentation rules for prepacked food.
How it differs from the EU
In the EU, Article 44 of Regulation 1169/2011 treats food prepacked for direct sale as non-prepacked food. Allergen information is mandatory, but whether a full ingredients list is needed, and how information is given, is for each Member State to decide. Some EU countries require written allergen information for such food; few require a full ingredients list in the way the UK now does.
For businesses operating in both the UK and the EU, the practical approach is to apply the stricter UK standard to PPDS food everywhere, so that labels can be reused and staff follow one process.
Running PPDS labelling well
PPDS labelling is only as good as the recipe information behind it. Keep recipes and specifications for every product, check supplier labels with each delivery, and generate labels from the recipe record rather than writing them by hand. When a recipe or supplier changes, update the label the same day. Train staff to check that the right label goes on the right product, because a correct label on the wrong sandwich is still a serious risk.
Restaurants, cafés and PPDS
Many restaurants never sell PPDS food, because everything is cooked or packed to order. Cafés, bakeries, delis, hotel grab-and-go fridges, school and hospital canteens and event caterers often do. If you make sandwiches, salads, pastries or desserts in the morning and display them packaged for customers to pick up, they are likely PPDS in the UK. Takeaway food packed after the customer orders is not PPDS, but allergen information must still be available before ordering.
Labels in practice
Most businesses print PPDS labels from a recipe database or labelling software, so ingredients and allergens come from one record. Handwritten labels are allowed but risky: spelling mistakes, missing ingredients and forgotten allergens are common. Keep label templates for each product, and print a new batch whenever a recipe or supplier changes.
Sources
- UK Food Standards Agency: Introduction to allergen labelling changes (PPDS)
- Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, consolidated text (EUR-Lex)
This guide is general information, not medical or legal advice. Guests with an allergy should follow their doctor's advice. Operators should confirm their own setup with their food safety adviser or local authority.