What are the requirements of UK allergen labeling laws? Complete explanation of Natasha Law and Rights Protection

Core requirements: Any food that is "packaged in the same place and sold directly to customers" (PPDS, prepacked for direct sale) must be labeled with the name of the food + a complete ingredient list, in which the 14 legal allergens must be highlighted in bold, capital letters or underlined.

Which foods must be labeled with allergens? Three categories should be distinguished

① Prepackaged food (factory production, supermarket shelves): The ingredient list must always be complete, the most stringent.

② PPDS: Made in-house, boxed by yourself, placed in a warm cabinet or freezer waiting for you to pick up - sandwiches, salad boxes, sushi boxes, freshly made bread from the bakery. This category is what Natasha's Law governs and must be labeled.

③ Non-prepackaged food : dishes cooked to order in restaurants, cooked food in bulk and weighed, and takeaway. The law only requires businesses to provide allergen information "in some way", and can tell verbally - this is the biggest loophole.

Legal Class 14 Allergens: Gluten-containing grains, crustaceans, eggs, fish, peanuts, soybeans, milk, tree nuts, celery, mustard, sesame, sulfur dioxide and sulfites, lupins, molluscs.

2026 Latest Development: Will Owen's Law Become Mandatory?

In 2017, 18-year-old Owen Carey ordered a grilled chicken burger for his birthday. He had clearly informed the waiter that he was allergic to dairy products, but the menu did not mention that the chicken was marinated in buttermilk. He didn't make it out of the store.

His family pushed for "Owen's Law," which requires restaurant menus to list allergens in writing. The current status is: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has issued best practice guidance in March 2025, recommending that all non-prepackaged foods provide written allergen information and proactively dialogue with customers to confirm - But this is still a "recommendation", not a law.

The government has committed to evaluating the implementation of this guidance from spring 2026, and the results of the evaluation will determine whether to legislate. In other words, this year is a critical observation window.

Restaurants fail to label allergens. How can Chinese people in the UK complain and make claims?

The legal consequences are not light. According to Food Safety Act 1990 section 14 (food sold does not meet the buyer's requirements), merchants can be criminally prosecuted; in serious cases, unlimited fines or even imprisonment can be imposed. In the past two years, London restaurants have been fined more than 40,000 pounds for improper allergen management.

There are two paths to encounter problems, which can be paralleled:

🔹 Report : Complain to the Environmental Health Department of the council where the restaurant is located. They have the power to enforce the law and will come to inspect the restaurant.

🔹 Civil Claim : Personal injury lawsuit requires proof that the merchant failed to exercise reasonable care. Hospital records, order receipts, and evidence of conversations with waiters are all indispensable.

Preventing allergies when ordering food in the UK: 4 actions to make it a habit

1. Use the word "allergy". says "I have a nut allergy", don't say "I don't like nuts". The former triggers the kitchen's allergen process, the latter is simply a taste preference.

2. Request a written allergen matrix. regular restaurants have an allergen comparison table, so just ask for it and take a photo after reading it.

3. The remarks column of the takeout app is unreliable. It is likely that no one will read the small print of . If you have a serious allergy, call the store to confirm, or simply don’t order it.

4. Carry two epinephrine pens (AAI) with you. NHS recommends two doses because the first shot may not be enough. At the same time, allergy history is registered into the GP system.

Families with children have one extra step: submit a written allergy care plan to the school and confirm that emergency medications are stocked. This falls within the school's statutory caring responsibilities in the UK.

Natasha and Owen's names are in the legal discussion because there are people who refuse to let tragedy just be a tragedy. What we can do is apply the rules - ask more questions and leave more screenshots.

This article is for reference only. Please consult a licensed attorney or medical professional for specific questions.

[Data source] British Food Standards Agency (FSA) PPDS allergen labeling guidelines; GOV.UK "Allergen information for non-prepacked foods: best practice"; The Food Information (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2019.