Alert on allergy labelling as food law changes
FOOD businesses across Derbyshire are being urged to start preparing for changes to the law on allergen labelling for all food which they pack and sell direct to customers.
Derbyshire County Council’s trading standards officers are encouraging businesses to seek advice and get ready for the changes which come into force on October 1 this year.
The law change will mean any food business that packs food and sells it direct to a customer (pre-packed direct sale/ PPDS) will have to include a full list of ingredients and emphasise any intentionally added allergenic ingredients.
There are 14 different allergens which must be emphasised should they be present in the food, including milk, mustard, cereals containing gluten, eggs, fish and peanuts.
The county council’s trading standards department is working with the Food Standards Agency (FSA) to support businesses to prepare for the changes.
Also known as Natasha’s Law, the changes come following the death in 2016 of teenager Natasha Ednanlaperouse from an allergic reaction caused by eating a baguette that she was unaware contained sesame.
The county council cabinet member for health and communities, Councillor Carol Hart, said: “Customer safety should always be at the top of the list for all food businesses and our trading standards officers work hard to ensure this is the case across Derbyshire. “It’s essential that all food businesses comply with the changes to the law, as just a trace of an allergen can cause a person with an allergy to become seriously ill or even cause their death.
“We are urging all food businesses to start preparing now for this change in the law so that on October 1 they are ready, and Derbyshire customers can feel confident that they can buy PPDS food and know exactly what is in it.”
Customer safety should always be at the top of the list for all food businesses.
Cllr Carol Hart