Natasha's Law Checklist: What to Display and How to Stay Compliant

For the full explainer on what Natasha's Law is, the 14 UK allergens, and the March 2025 FSA update on non-prepacked food, see our complete Natasha's Law guide. This page is the practical version: what to display, who it applies to, what happens if you don't comply, and a free allergen notice to download.

What is Natasha's Law? A quick recap

Natasha's Law requires food packaged on the premises where it's sold, before the customer orders it (PPDS food), to carry a full ingredients list with the 14 major allergens clearly emphasised (bold, italic, underline or contrasting colour). It came into force on 1 October 2021, following the death of Natasha Ednan-Laperouse in 2016 after an allergic reaction to an undeclared allergen in a pre-packaged baguette.

Who does it apply to?

Any food business selling PPDS food. That includes: cafés and coffee shops selling pre-wrapped sandwiches, pastries or cakes; bakeries; delis; school canteens; hospital catering; farm shops; market stalls; and any other food-to-go operation where food is packaged on site before the customer selects it.

It does not apply to food prepared and packaged elsewhere (which falls under different labelling rules) or to food prepared and served directly to the customer on request (which has separate allergen information requirements under the 2014 Food Information Regulations).

If you are not certain which category your food falls into, the Food Standards Agency guidance is the authoritative source. The key question is: was the food packaged on your premises, before the customer ordered it?

What should you display at the point of sale?

The law mandates labelling on the packaging of PPDS food. For non-prepacked food, allergen information must be available to customers, verbally or in writing, and a notice at the point of sale is the usual way to prompt customers to ask for it or find it.

A good allergen notice at the point of sale should:

• List all 14 declarable allergens clearly
• Direct customers to your written allergen information and to staff who can answer questions about specific dishes
• Be permanently displayed where customers can see it before ordering
• Include your business name

A laminated A4 sheet taped to a wall works as a stop-gap. A permanent, professional sign — engraved or printed — communicates that you take allergen management seriously, which matters to the estimated 2 million people in the UK living with a food allergy.

Free allergen notice download

We have produced a free, print-ready allergen notice PDF that lists all 14 allergens and includes a prompt for customers to inform staff of any dietary requirements. It is free to download with no sign-up required.

Download the free allergen notice PDF

Print it, laminate it, frame it, or use it as the basis for a permanent sign. It is sized for A4 and A5 printing.

If you want a permanent engraved version — one that will not fade, curl or need replacing — we make a freestanding oak allergen sign in A4 and A5 with space for your business logo, laser-engraved into FSC-certified oak veneered MDF in our workshop in North Wales. See the full food allergy signs collection, or our guide to choosing a food allergy sign for a café or restaurant.

Allergen information for non-prepacked food

For food that is not pre-packaged — dishes prepared and served fresh to order — allergen information must be available to customers, verbally or in writing. The Food Standards Agency's March 2025 best-practice guidance for England, Wales and Northern Ireland recommends that written allergen information is always available, and an "ask a member of staff" notice on its own is not considered sufficient.

The practical standard most food businesses adopt is a combination: a written allergen matrix or menu annotation plus a counter notice directing allergy sufferers to speak to staff. This gives you a paper trail and ensures the customer is never left guessing.

What are the penalties for non-compliance?

Local authority environmental health officers enforce food labelling and information requirements. Penalties for non-compliance can include improvement notices, fines, and — in serious cases — prosecution. The reputational damage from an allergen incident is, in practice, far more serious than the regulatory penalty.

The Food Standards Agency runs a dedicated allergen guidance hub for food businesses with full technical guidance, labelling templates and training resources.

Practical checklist for food businesses

• Identify all PPDS products you sell
• Ensure each one carries a full ingredients list with allergens emphasised
• Keep written allergen information for non-prepacked food easy to find, and display a clear allergen notice at the point of sale
• Train all customer-facing staff to handle allergen queries and know where the allergen information is held
• Keep a written allergen matrix for your menu and update it whenever a recipe changes
• Review your labelling whenever a supplier changes an ingredient

The free allergen notice PDF covers the point-of-sale display element. For the rest, the FSA guidance and your local environmental health team are the right resources.

Frequently asked questions

Does Natasha's Law apply in Scotland?
Scotland introduced equivalent PPDS labelling requirements on 1 October 2021 under separate Scottish legislation. The practical requirements are the same.

We only sell coffee and cakes — does this apply to us?
If your cakes are packaged on your premises before customers select them, yes. If they are made to order and packaged at the point of sale, the PPDS rules do not apply, but the 2014 Food Information Regulations still require you to make allergen information available to customers, verbally or in writing.

Does Natasha's Law mean I have to display an allergen sign?
No. Natasha's Law covers labelling on prepacked-for-direct-sale food. For non-prepacked food, allergen information must be available to customers, and the Food Standards Agency's March 2025 guidance says an "ask a member of staff" notice on its own is not considered sufficient. A notice works best alongside written allergen information and trained staff.

Can I use the free allergen notice PDF on my website?
Yes — it is free to download, print and display. You do not need permission.

What size should the allergen notice be?
Large enough to read clearly at counter height. A4 is the practical minimum for most food service environments. Our engraved oak versions are available in A4 and A5.

This page is a summary, not legal advice. Always refer to the Food Standards Agency and your local Environmental Health Officer for guidance specific to your business.