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UK Allergen Labelling Law Overview:
- Who: The UK Food Standards Agency has released a new ingredients and allergen labelling law for pre-packaged food.
- Why: The law is in response to the death of Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, who died after suffering an allergic reaction to a pre-packaged airport baguette.
- Where: The new law, called “Natasha’s Law,” went into effect across the United Kingdom this month.
A new allergen labelling law went into effect in the United Kingdom on Oct. 1 that is requiring businesses to label food prepacked for direct sale with a full ingredients list.
Called Natasha’s Law, the fourteen major allergens — including tree nuts, sesame seeds, milk, gluten, and fish, among others — are to be emphasised in the ingredients list, according to the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA).
The law is named after Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, a 15-year-old Fulham girl who died after suffering an allergic reaction to a pre-packaged baguette that did not list its ingredients.
Allergen List Required Under Natasha’s Law
Products including pre-wrapped sandwiches, pre-wrapped cheeses and meats from grocery store delis, and pre-packaged and pre-made fast food must abide by the new labelling law, says the FSA.
Food pre-packaged at a separate location than where it is sold has already been required to provide a full ingredients list, with an emphasis on allergy information.
The law is meant to create more consistency in the way pre-packed food products are labeled and give people suffering from allergies peace of mind when purchasing “grab and go,” items, says the FSA.
“This is a huge step in helping improve the quality of life for around 2 million people living with food allergies in this country,” said FSA Chief Executive Emily Miles.
The FSA has advised local authorities to enforce the labelling law proportionately and to use a risk-based approach when determining proper punishment for violations.
Minor errors and violations should be dealt with by offering guidance and support, especially in the coming months as businesses get used to the new labelling laws, says the FSA.
“I understand how difficult the past 18 months have been for food businesses, and I am grateful for the effort that so many have made to prepare for the changes,” said Miles. “If these changes drive down the number of hospital admissions caused by food allergies, which has increased threefold over the past 20 years, and prevent further tragic deaths such as Natasha’s, that can only be a positive thing.”
Aldi, Asda, Morrisons, and Ocado issued recalls earlier this year for certain health snacks that the companies discovered contained allergens such as peanuts and gluten that were not listed on the products labeling.
Do you agree that pre-packaged food products should be required to list all of their ingredients? Let us know in the comments!
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