Natasha’s Law is the rule that food made and packed on the same premises where it is sold, before you order it, must carry a full ingredients list with the 14 major allergens emphasised. It has applied since 1 October 2021 and covers foods described as “prepacked for direct sale”, such as a sandwich made in a café kitchen and wrapped for the chiller. For anyone with a food allergy, it means the grab-and-go shelf should now tell you what is inside, in writing, before you buy.
Key facts
- In force since 1 October 2021 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
- Applies to prepacked for direct sale (PPDS) food: made and packed on site, then sold from the same premises.
- The label must show the name of the food and a full ingredients list, with the 14 allergens emphasised (for example in bold).
- Food made to order and food sold online or by phone (distance selling) is not PPDS.
- Breaking the rules can lead to unlimited fines and up to six months in prison, according to Kent Trading Standards.
Who was Natasha, and why is the law named after her?
Natasha Ednan-Laperouse was 15 when she died on 17 July 2016, on a flight from Heathrow to Nice, after eating a baguette bought at the airport. She had a severe sesame allergy. Sesame seeds had been baked into the dough, and the packaging did not list them, because at the time food made and wrapped on the premises did not need a full ingredients label. Her parents, Tanya and Nadim Ednan-Laperouse, campaigned for the change, and the Natasha Allergy Research Foundation they founded explains the background.
The law that followed is formally a change to the food information regulations, but almost everyone calls it Natasha’s Law.
What counts as “prepacked for direct sale”?
PPDS food has three features. It is packed before a customer orders it, it is packed on the same premises where it is sold (or on a market stall or vehicle run by the same business), and it is in packaging that cannot be opened without the customer noticing. Typical examples you might see while eating out:
- sandwiches, wraps and baguettes made in a café or sandwich shop and placed in the chiller
- salads, pasta pots and fruit cups packed in-house at a deli counter
- pies, sausage rolls or cakes boxed by an in-store bakery
- burgers or hot dishes wrapped in advance and held under a heat lamp in a fast-food outlet
- school or workplace canteen items packed in the morning for lunch
The Food Standards Agency’s introduction to allergen labelling for PPDS food is the official starting point for businesses, and its decision tool helps them check which category a product falls into.
What must the label show?
A PPDS label must carry the name of the food and a full ingredients list. Any of the 14 major allergens in the recipe must be emphasised within that list, usually in bold, so they stand out. As Kent Trading Standards puts it, the food needs “a full ingredient list that emphasises the presence of allergens in the food”. The 14 are celery, cereals containing gluten, crustaceans, eggs, fish, lupin, milk, molluscs, mustard, tree nuts, peanuts, sesame, soya, and sulphur dioxide and sulphites.
| Type of food | Example | What you are entitled to |
|---|---|---|
| Prepacked for direct sale (PPDS) | Sandwich made and wrapped in the café | Name + full ingredients list, allergens emphasised |
| Prepacked (made elsewhere) | Branded crisps or a factory-made sandwich | Full label from the manufacturer, allergens emphasised |
| Non-prepacked (loose or made to order) | A meal cooked when you order it | Allergen information on request; it can be given in writing or verbally |
| Distance selling | Online or phone takeaway order | Allergen information before you buy and when the food arrives |
What does Natasha’s Law not cover?
The law does not change the rules for a meal cooked to order in a restaurant. That food is “non-prepacked”, and the business must still be able to tell you which of the 14 allergens are in each dish, but it may do so verbally, through an allergen menu or a chart. Food sold by distance means, such as an app or phone order, is also outside the PPDS rules. If you have an allergy, always tell staff when you order, and see our guide to telling a restaurant about a food allergy.
“May contain” warnings are a separate matter. They are voluntary statements about the risk of cross-contamination and are not part of the ingredients list, so a sandwich can be correctly labelled and still carry a warning about traces.
How should you use PPDS labels when eating on the go?
- Read the label every time. Recipes change, and a café may swap a supplier without changing the product name.
- Look for the emphasised words, then read the rest of the list for less obvious sources, such as mustard in a dressing or sesame in a bread topping.
- Check the date and the packing. PPDS items are often made the same day; the label should match the item in the box.
- Ask if anything is unclear. Staff should be able to show you the recipe or the allergen record.
- Report problems. If a label is missing or wrong, tell the business, and contact your local authority’s food team if it is not put right.
If you are newer to allergen rules, our explainer on the major food allergens covers each of the 14 in turn, and our sesame allergy guide looks at the allergen at the centre of Natasha’s story.
Frequently asked questions
When did Natasha’s Law come into force?
Natasha’s Law came into force on 1 October 2021. It applies to food prepacked for direct sale in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Does Natasha’s Law apply to restaurants?
It applies to any food business that makes and packs food on the premises before it is ordered, including restaurants with a grab-and-go range. Meals cooked to order are not covered by PPDS labelling, but allergen information must still be available on request.
Does Natasha’s Law apply in Scotland?
The Food Standards Agency guidance covers England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Food Standards Scotland publishes its own guidance for businesses in Scotland.
Is a “may contain” warning part of Natasha’s Law?
No. “May contain” statements are voluntary warnings about possible cross-contamination. Natasha’s Law is about listing the ingredients that are actually in the food.
What should I do if a PPDS sandwich has no label?
Do not eat it if you have an allergy. Ask staff for the ingredients and allergen information, and report the issue to the business and, if necessary, to your local authority.
The short version
Natasha’s Law gives people with food allergies a written ingredients list on food made and wrapped where it is sold. Use the label, ask when in doubt, and remember that meals cooked to order rely on a conversation with staff rather than a sticker. More guides are in our Food Allergies section.
