Food packaged before a customer orders it and sold on the same premises where it was packed, like a pre-wrapped sandwich made in the morning for the chiller.

When did Natasha's Law come into force?

1 October 2021, across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, with equivalent arrangements in Scotland.

Food Safety Logbooks · Filed 14 Jul 2026

Natasha's Law: PPDS Allergen Labelling Explained (UK 2026)

Q: Does Natasha's Law apply to made-to-order food?

No, made-to-order food is non-prepacked; allergen information can be given verbally or by signposting, provided it is accurate.

Natasha's Law requires PPDS food to carry a full ingredient list with the 14 allergens emphasised. What counts as PPDS and how to comply.

By Jamie Dawson · Editor ▮ Updated 22 Jul 2026 ▮ 2 min read

Prepacked sandwiches on a shelf, PPDS food must carry full ingredient labelling under Natasha's Law.

Quick answer: Natasha's Law requires food that is prepacked for direct sale (PPDS) to carry a full ingredient list with the 14 regulated allergens emphasised (e.g. in bold). It has applied across England, Wales and Northern Ireland since 1 October 2021. PPDS means food packed on the same premises from which it is sold, before the customer orders it. Think a sandwich made and wrapped in the morning for the chiller. Get the label wrong and you risk enforcement action and, far worse, harm to an allergic customer.

What Natasha's Law is

Natasha's Law is the common name for the allergen labelling changes introduced after the death of Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, who suffered a fatal allergic reaction to a prepacked baguette that carried no ingredient list. The law closed the labelling gap for PPDS food.

What counts as PPDS

Food is PPDS if it is packaged before a customer orders it and is sold on the same premises where it was packed. Examples: pre-wrapped sandwiches, boxed salads, cakes packaged on site, and similar grab-and-go items.

PPDS: needs a full ingredient list with allergens emphasised.
Made-to-order / non-prepacked: allergen information can be given verbally or via signposting, provided it is accurate.
Prepacked (for general retail): already required full labelling before Natasha's Law.

What the label must show

The name of the food.
A full ingredients list.
The 14 regulated allergens emphasised within that list (e.g. bold, capitals or a different colour).

How to comply in practice

Keep an accurate, current recipe and ingredient record for every PPDS item.
Update labels whenever a recipe or supplier ingredient changes.
Train staff so labelling is consistent and errors are caught.
Keep your allergen matrix aligned with your PPDS labels.

FAQs

Does Natasha's Law apply to made-to-order food?

No, food made to a customer's order is non-prepacked; allergen information can be provided verbally or by signposting, as long as it is accurate. Natasha's Law specifically covers PPDS.

How must allergens be emphasised?

Within the ingredients list, using a clear method such as bold text, capitals, or contrasting colour, so they stand out.

Does it apply across the whole UK?

Yes. England, Wales and Northern Ireland since 1 October 2021, with equivalent arrangements in Scotland.