3 minute read
Food allergies occur when your immune system mistakenly identifies proteins in food as a threat, releasing chemicals that cause allergic symptoms. Various foods such as dairy products can trigger reactions. The reason why some people have food allergies and others do not, remains a mystery.
Natasha’s Law
Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, a 15-year-old, died from an allergic reaction after consuming a baguette sandwich from an airport food shop in the UK in 2016.
The sandwich contained allergens not listed on the label, causing Natasha to suffer a fatal heart attack, despite her father’s attempts to administer life-saving medication.
Natasha’s parents successfully campaigned for “Natasha’s Law,” which came into effect in October 2021 requires UK food businesses to label all ingredients and allergens on food made and sold on the premises.
Natasha’s Law aims to:
- Protect food allergy sufferers by increasing industry transparency
- Ensure accurate allergen labelling on prepacked foods
Your Legal Obligations
Food businesses must:
- Protect food allergy sufferers by increasing industry transparency
- Communicate effectively with suppliers, who in turn must provide you with a list all of their ingredients that may contain allergens
- Provide accurate food labels
- Provide accurate allergen labelling in prepacked foods
- Update allergen labelling if recipes change
- Train staff on allergen awareness
- Have a proper system for managing allergens
- For pre-packed food, highlight allergens in the ingredients placed in bottles, cans, cartons, or wrapped before it is served to customers
- For Pre-Packed Direct Sale (PPDS) foods, list allergens in the ingredients of any product packaged before customers order or select them, including those from a display unit, behind a counter or sold at mobile or temporary locations
Natasha’s Law is a regulation that helps keep food safe for customers with food allergies or intolerances.
By following this law, and providing full allergen information on the menu, a chalkboard, website or in an information pack, provides safe meals to these customers, while helping your business grow.
