NEWS
Time running out for indies to prepare for Natasha’s Law By Greg Pitcher
Key bodies have urged independent food retailers to prepare now for sweeping changes to food labelling requirements, known as Natasha’s Law, that come into force later this year. The Guild of Fine Food and global food safety consultancy Navitas stressed the importance of getting to grips with the Food Information Amendment ahead of it becoming enforceable from 1st October. Created after lobbying by the parents of teenager Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, who died after suffering an allergic reaction to an ingredient in a Pret a Manger baguette, the legislation will make it a legal duty for retailers to label all food prepackaged for direct sale on their premises with full ingredients and correct emphasis on allergens (see box). Kirstie Jones of Navitas told FFD: “Natasha’s Law
All food that is pre-packaged on a business’s premises will be subject to new labelling requirements
will affect all businesses that work within the food and hospitality industry. With regulations continuing to be updated, ensuring that staff are suitably trained is key. “Although the law does not come into effect until October, we encourage businesses to get a head start on training staff and getting themselves prepared. Since the newest legislation has stemmed in part from tragic circumstances, businesses can’t afford to be behind
when it comes to upholding food safety.” Jones said digital management was a useful technique to help retailers keep their customers safe. “Digital food safety and allergen management can aid businesses by storing all allergen and ingredient information for food items, as well as supplier information, all of which can be accessed anywhere and is an effective tool for tracking and traceability,” she said. The Guild of Fine Food
Getting ready for allergen law takes time, say retailers Independent food retailers already gearing up for Natasha’s Law have encouraged others to realise the scale of the challenge. At Lishman’s of Ilkley, Emma Lishman said the Yorkshire-based butcher was aiming to be ready with its labels and processes by August to give itself a bedding-in period before the legislation comes into effect on 1st October. A huge amount of preparation work was required to get things right, she added. “Since the COVID pandemic started, we’ve been pre-packing a lot more products, because of contactless collections and home deliveries,” Lishman said. “Fortunately we have a system that links to our tills but we have hundreds of products to look at. If
I decide to make a pork & apple sausage, I will have to have the full ingredient list – not just pork and apple but everything that’s in the rusk I buy. “If our supplier can’t provide our usual rusk, and we use something else with different ingredients, we might use it in 20 prepacked sausages and have to change the labels on all of them.” Tim Belcher, proprietor at Wiltshire deli Bloomfields Fine Foods, said he was about to undertake some online training himself before rolling it out to the rest of his staff. “It is every caterer’s nightmare that something happens to a customer,” he said. “You have to protect those with allergens. You have to install every level of protection you can.”
has prepared a document to help businesses in the sector get ready for the law change. “It’s important you start preparing for compliance,” the document states. “Businesses must put in place procedures for labelling for those products pre-packed for direct sale (PPDS) and meet legal obligations to ensure customer safety.” The Guild has urged retailers to follow a fourstep process with the acronym DELI. Its guidance states: “Decide what products you sell or intend to sell as PPDS and what labels you intend to use; Ensure you gather the correct information (recipes, ingredient specifications and allergen details); List the ingredients and allergens on labels with the relevant information; and Inform your staff of procedural changes and update or refresh any allergen training.” The document adds that being able to show you fully undertook due diligence concerning labelling will be critical to defending any claims brought against you under this new legislation.
IN BRIEF The chicken sandwich has been named nation’s Walter Smiththe Fine Foods favourite after research has announced the by mealof kitthree delivery closure stores service HelloFresh. in the Midlands. TheThe survey butchertallied chain Google revealed searches, Instagram over Christmas that its posts TikTok views to Denbyand Village, West determine the title. Bromwich and Coventry shops would stop trading, leaving it with 11 outlets – many of centre which are within Garden chain garden centres. Dobbies has opened the doors to its 71st store in Boston, Lincolnshire, Tracklements after acquiringhas the hired Ben Hallam Garden for former Johnsons the rolesite. of commercial Centre The new manager,also which includes opening includes identifying new market a Sainsbury’s food hall opportunities. Hallam concession, after the joins the Wiltshire-based supply deal between condiment specialist the two retailers was after 11 years atearlier dairy firm Yeo extended in 2021. Valley. Waitrose has Health food retailer reintroduced its ten food Planet Organic has sharing platter lines moved into the hot food after a major packaging delivery market and redesign. The sandwich, teamed up with high-end roll and wrap sharing service Supper, platters will nowwhich come willa courier a selection in cardboard base of to-go an items and sushi without outer case or from two Central London lid, cutting the packaging stores. by 65%.
What exactly does Natasha’s Law cover and how do you comply? Katie Chandler, partner at law firm TaylorWessing, answers your questions.
When exactly is a purchase covered by the new law? The answer is in the definition of pre-packed foods. Food is pre-packed when it is either fully or partly enclosed by the packaging; cannot be altered without opening or changing the packaging, and is ready for sale. Pre-packed food for direct sale (PPDS) is food that is packaged at the same place it is sold to consumers and is in
the packaging before it is ordered or selected. Made-to-order food is not included. What exactly is required by the legislation for items that do come under it? For those food products which fall within the meaning of PPDS, a label is required with the name of the food and a full ingredients list, in quantity order, with any of the 14 allergens emphasised within the list in bold, capital letters, contrasting colours or underlined.
What are the potential consequences of noncompliance? Failing to comply with allergen labelling laws is a serious issue. On top of the consumer safety risk, there are significant consequences for noncompliant businesses – Food Standards Agency enforcement action can include improvement notices, closure notices or even criminal prosecution. Reputational damage could destroy a food business and civil claims can be brought under the Consumer Protection Act 1984. Vol.22 Issue 5 | June 2021
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