3 minute read
Food labelling
by 55 North
LEGISLATION: SGS BY JOHN LEE, HEAD OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS, SGF
Get ready for Natasha’s Law
The SGF is urging retailers to prepare for new food labelling regulations that will soon come into force.
On 1 October new food labelling regulations will come into force across the UK. Food which is classified as prepacked for direct sale – salad bowls, pasta pots and sandwiches which are packaged and placed in a chiller for example – must list all ingredients and allergens. This might sound simple, but even a ham sandwich has a surprisingly long list of ingredients.
A couple of years ago this may have had little or no impact on our sector but, given the massive increase in food-to-go in convenience, the overall impact will be significant. It’s easy to see this as just another cost and compliance burden thrown at the industry by government but given the tragic circumstances which led us here and the growing expectation from consumers that they are fully informed about what they are buying, these regulations have been almost impossible to argue against.
The reality is that retailers will have to install some kind of labelling software and work closely with food service companies and wholesalers to get accurate – and constantly updated – ingredients lists and product information. Food prepared in front of the customer
Food classified as pre-packed for direct sale – including packaged chilled sandwiches – must list all ingredients and allergens.
The SGF is urging retailers to prepare for new food labelling regulations that will soon come into force. By John Lee, Head of Public Affairs, SGF
and at their request isn’t covered by the regulations. However, retailers need to remember that they are legally obliged to have a list of allergens available if the customer asks for it.
As the national trade body for the Scottish convenience sector SGF had a responsibility to develop fit-for-purpose guidance for its members. One of the biggest challenges was the very tight timescales. The Scottish government had committed to go live on 1 October 2021 to synchronise with the rest of the UK, but it made this commitment before it had even started work on its own regulations and policy guidance.
From its inception Food Standards Scotland has become a key player in every aspect of food and nutrition policy. Commendably, it saw the need to ensure that convenience retailers were fully supported to comply with the new regulations. It was willing to develop a partnership with SGF to implement an awareness-raising campaign targeted at SGF members.
This partnership has allowed SGF to produce a retailer guide to the regulations, launch a dedicated campaign website, place advertising in the trade press and have a strong focus on social media.
Food Standards Scotland will also deliver a breakout session at the SGF conference – something SGF encourages all its members to attend.
Given the very tight timescales and the time it can take to install and customise labelling software in practical terms this means that many retailers will have to develop some kind of ‘transition’ strategy.
Unfortunately, this might involve buying-in pre packed sandwiches etc rather than making your own for the time it takes to set up the software.
The harsh reality is that on 1 October everyone must be fully compliant with the new regulations. The impact will be significant, and we might come to see this as a major turning point for the sector. How retailers adapt to Natasha’s law might be a deciding factor in separating out those who are serious about food-to-go and see it as being a vital part of the future of convenience from those who do not.
● More SGF guidance can be found at the Get Labelled website.
