Ley de alérgenos en el Reino Unido 2026: lo que toda empresa de alimentación debe saber

UK Allergen Law 2026: What Every Food Business Must Know Since Natasha's Law came into force in October 2021, full ingredient labelling on pre-packed for direct sale (PPDS) food is mandatory across the UK. In 2026, enforcement is tighter and penalties are real. Here is the complete compliance guide.

Key numbers for 2026: 2 million people in the UK have a food allergy. 10 people die from allergic reactions to food each year. The Food Standards Agency issued 1,400+ enforcement actions in 2025. Maximum fine for non-compliance: unlimited (Crown Court). There is no grey area.

What is Natasha's Law? Natasha's Law — formally the Food Information (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2019, fully in force since 1 October 2021 — requires all food businesses to label pre-packed for direct sale (PPDS) food with a full ingredients list, with the 14 major allergens clearly emphasised (bold, italic or contrasting colour).

PPDS food is food packed on the same premises from which it is sold, before a customer selects or orders it. This covers sandwiches made in the morning and placed in a counter display, pastries pre-wrapped at a bakery, and meal kits assembled in a café kitchen.

The 14 major allergens you must declare # Allergen Common sources 1 Celery Soups, sauces, salads, celery salt 2 Cereals containing gluten Wheat, rye, barley, oats — bread, pasta, cereals 3 Crustaceans Prawns, crabs, lobster, crayfish 4 Eggs Mayonnaise, pasta, cakes, quiche 5 Fish Worcestershire sauce, pizza, relishes 6 Lupin Lupin flour and seeds in baked goods 7 Milk Butter, cheese, cream, milk powders 8 Molluscs Mussels, oysters, squid, clams 9 Mustard Salad dressings, marinades, soups, curries 10 Nuts (tree nuts) Almonds, cashews, walnuts, pistachios 11 Peanuts Peanut butter, satay, groundnut oil 12 Sesame Houmous, bread, breadsticks, sesame oil 13 Soya Tofu, beancurd, edamame, soya sauce 14 Sulphur dioxide / sulphites Wine, beer, dried fruits, preserved meats

What type of food does the law cover? PPDS — Full label required Pre-packed sandwiches, wraps, salads made on premises. Pastries displayed pre-wrapped. Any food packed before customer orders. Loose food — Verbal or written info Food sold without packaging (e.g. deli counter, hot food). Allergen info must be available — on a menu, board, or verbally on request. Pre-packed — Existing rules Factory-packed food with full label already. Same 14-allergen declaration. Covered by existing FIC Regulation, not Natasha's Law specifically.

Enforcement and penalties in 2026 Local authority environmental health officers carry out inspections. In 2025, the FSA escalated enforcement following several near-miss incidents. In 2026, the key enforcement changes are:

Improvement notices for first-time labelling failures — mandatory corrective action within 14 days Fixed penalties of £2,500 per product line for repeat failures Prohibition orders that can close a business pending compliance Crown Court prosecution for serious failures resulting in harm — unlimited fines, up to 2 years imprisonment 2026 FSA priority: allergen management in sandwich bars, meal deal retailers, and catered events is a stated enforcement focus. Spot inspections increased 40% versus 2024.

Compliance checklist ☐ Identify all PPDS products — any food packed on your premises before customer order or selection ☐ Create full ingredient lists for each PPDS product, reviewed and signed off by a responsible person ☐ Emphasise the 14 allergens in the ingredients list — bold, CAPS, or contrasting colour. Must be clearly distinguishable from other ingredients ☐ Print and apply labels before display — not after. The label must be on the packaging when the customer sees it, not added at point of sale ☐ Train all staff — especially new starters. Keep training records. The "I didn't know" defence does not work with enforcement officers ☐ Review quarterly — suppliers change ingredients. A product that was nut-free in January may not be in April. Date your ingredient reviews

FAQ Does Natasha's Law apply in Scotland and Wales?

Yes. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have equivalent legislation in force. The 14 allergens and PPDS labelling requirements are identical across all four nations.

What about "may contain" warnings?

Precautionary Allergen Labelling (PAL) — "may contain traces of…" — is voluntary but regulated. It must only be used when there is a genuine, assessed cross-contamination risk. Overusing PAL to cover all bases is considered poor practice and can trigger enforcement review.

Does Brexit change anything versus EU allergen law?

The UK retained the EU FIC Regulation (EU 1169/2011) as domestic law post-Brexit. The 14 allergens are the same. Natasha's Law closed the PPDS gap that existed in the retained EU regulation. Businesses selling into both UK and EU markets must comply with both regimes — practically identical in allergen scope.

Can AI help with allergen management?

Yes — AI tools can cross-reference your recipe database against supplier spec sheets to flag allergen changes automatically. This is particularly useful for multi-site operations where supplier substitutions happen frequently without central visibility.

Updated: June 2026 | Sources: Food Standards Agency (FSA), Food Information (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2019, EU FIC Regulation 1169/2011 (retained UK law), NHS Allergy UK statistics 2024 | This article is informational; consult the FSA or a food safety consultant for business-specific compliance advice.

Ley de alérgenos en el Reino Unido 2026: lo que toda empresa de alimentación debe saber

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