Natasha’s Law – What food will require PPDS Labelling

From the 1st of October the laws surrounding the labelling of pre packed foods for direct sale (PPDS) are changing. 

As a result of Natasha’s Law, the UK Government have brought in more stringent rules surrounding how products and made, and packed at the point of sale, are labelled.  We have discussed the implementation of this law ever since it was laid before parliament back in September 2019, but thought it was worth reminding people again as the law will be in force from the 1st of October 2021.

PPDS is food which is packaged at the same place it is offered or sold to consumers and is in this packaging before it is ordered or selected.  It can include food that consumers select themselves (e.g., from a display unit), as well as products kept behind a counter and some food sold at mobile or temporary outlets.

The label needs to show the name of the food and the ingredients list with the 14 allergens required to be declared by law emphasised within it.  These need to be in line with the legal requirements that apply to naming the food and listing ingredients.

This handy graphic from the FSA helps you decide whether your product is classed as a PPDS product.

This applies to any food business that produces PPDS food, including mobile sellers, food stalls, food vans, stalls at farmers’ markets and street food vendors.

One example of PPDS food is prepacked small tubs of ice cream.  It is a single item, consisting of the food and its packaging, that is ready for presentation to the consumer before it is ordered or selected.  These changes in law will also affect mobile sellers selling food where the same business packages food at a different location.  So, for example, if your business sells food from a market stall or van, and you package this food yourself at a different location, this is PPDS food.

Food is PPDS if it is packaged as follows:

• The food is fully or partly enclosed by the packaging.
• The food cannot be altered without opening or changing the packaging.
• The food is ready for sale to the final consumer.

Hot drinks made to order are not PPDS and do not require PPDS labelling, but if you pour and lid drinks before consumers order them, in anticipation of a rush, the drinks would be PPDS and would need labelling.

Whether you are selling via parlour or café, or whether you sell out of a mobile van, market stall or cart, these changes mean you must continue to provide consumers with allergen information orally or through displaying information on a menu, chalkboard or notice as you have previously done. These changes from the 1st of October are in addition to this requirement.