New food allergen labelling requirements

Food labelling for prepacked for direct sale (PPDS)

Since 1 October 2021, food businesses are required to follow prepacked for direct sale (PPDS) allergen labelling requirements. This is to protect consumers by providing life-saving allergen information on the packaging.

Existing food labelling

The existing allergen labelling requirements for manufacturer labelled foods will stay the same.

Who it will affect

If your business creates products that need PPDS labelling, you'll need to comply with the new rules.

PPDS is food that is:

• packaged at the same place it is offered or sold to consumers
• in packaging before it is ordered or selected by customers

This includes food:

• that consumers select themselves
• products kept behind a counter
• some food sold at mobile or temporary outlets

Types of food that are affected

PPDS food can include the following:

• sandwiches and bakery products which are packed on site before a consumer selects or orders them
• fast food packed before it is ordered for example, a burger under a hot lamp where the food can't be changed without opening the packaging
• products which are prepackaged on site ready for sale (pizzas, rotisserie chicken, salads and pasta pots)
• burgers and sausages prepackaged by a butcher on the premises
• samples of cookies given to consumers for free which were packed on the site where they are sold
• foods packaged and then sold elsewhere by the same operator at a market stall or mobile site
• PPDS food provided in schools, care homes or hospitals and other similar settings will also require labelling

What you need to do

The label for PPDS food needs to show:

• the name of the food
• the ingredients list with the 14 allergens that are part of the law

There is PPDS guidance available for:

• bakers
• butchers
• fast food and takeaway restaurants
• mobile sellers and street food vendors
• restaurants, cafés and pubs
• schools, colleges and nurseries

Guidance for PPDS food products

Find out more on allergen labelling for PPDS food

Contact us

If you have any concerns or questions, you can contact the Food Safety team at Barnet by telephone on 020 8359 7995, or by email at foodsafety@barnet.gov.uk

Alternatively, you can write to the team, addressing it to:

Food Safety Services
2 Bristol Avenue
Colindale
London 
NW9 4EW