Natasha's Law Explained: Allergen Labelling for UK Food Businesses

By Assessment First · Published 7 February 2026

What is Natasha's Law?

Natasha's Law came into force on 1 October 2021. It requires that all food that is pre-packaged for direct sale (PPDS) must carry a full ingredients list with the 14 major allergens clearly highlighted. The law is named after Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, who died in 2016 after an allergic reaction to a baguette whose sesame content was not labelled.

What foods does it apply to?

Natasha's Law applies to food packaged on the same premises from which it is sold, before the customer orders or selects it. This includes: sandwiches wrapped in a café before sale, bakery items packaged before display, and buffet items pre-packaged for a self-service counter.

What must the label include?

Every PPDS food product must carry the name of the food and a full ingredients list, with the 14 major allergens emphasised in bold, a different colour, or underlined — so they stand out clearly.

Non-PPDS food

For food sold loose or packaged to order, you must be able to provide allergen information verbally or in writing. Staff must be trained to communicate this information confidently.

The allergen matrix

An allergen matrix is a table listing all your menu items against the 14 major allergens. Assessment First's Food Hygiene module includes an interactive allergen matrix you can download as a branded PDF — ready to display in your premises or share with customers.