Natasha's Law, which came into force in October 2021 in the UK, requires clear labelling of allergens and ingredients on foods sold at food outlets. The legislation aims to protect those with allergies, helping them feel confident about the food they buy.

As many restaurant businesses know, the legislation meant that they should provide details of the allergens and ingredients in the food they serve, either on the menu, online, or verbally.

Here's what UK hotel restaurants need to know about Natasha's Law.

What is Natasha's Law?

Also called the UK Food Information Amendment, Natasha's Law was passed into legislation in September 2019 but came into force in October 2021. It was named after Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, who died from an allergic reaction to a baguette they bought from Pret a Manger. She suffered an anaphylactic reaction to the sesame seeds from the baguette.

Natasha's parents have been campaigning for a change in the law following her death, and that's how Natasha's Law came into place. Under the law, any business selling pre-packed foods for direct sale must provide a detailed list of ingredients in the packaging and highlight known allergens, including those that are lesser known to cause allergic reactions once consumed.

Natasha's law aims to bring better transparency to the food people buy and consume. It lays down the new standards that companies in the food business must follow.

The law requires businesses to provide a complete list of ingredients on any food prepared and packed by staff at a restaurant, cafe, pub, hotel, or any food business. It means that hotel restaurants that sell pre-made sandwiches and other ready-to-eat dishes like salads and pies and package food before selling must display a clear list of ingredients on the label of these food items.

What Foods Come Under Natasha's Law?

Natasha's law can apply to all kinds of foods pre-packed for direct sale. These foods are also known as PPDS foods. To be considered PPDS, the foods should be packed at the same place they offer or sell to customers and stored in the packaging before the customer orders or selects it. The law can also apply to foods consumers choose themselves, such as those food products on display on the shelf, including products stored behind the counter.

For Natasha's Law to apply, the food packaging should completely or partially enclose the food, but in such a way that the contents are not altered without changing or opening the packaging. In some cases, certain foods can be exempted from Natasha's Law. These include foods packed after the customer ordered them and foods sold from a distance, such as those ordered online or by phone. The Food Standards Agency can determine whether certain food products need new labelling , this will help ensure you are being compliant.

Who Checks that Hotel Businesses are Being Compliant?

Hotels should seek expert advice about Natasha's Law to ensure they are compliant with the law. Get in touch with food labelling experts who will examine the food items you pack and determine if their labels are in accordance with Natasha's Law. They can also inform you if any changes are required and provide a report for your due diligence.

If you still have not created the food labels, the food labelling experts can assist you with preparing the correct labels. They will examine the ingredients and product specifications of the food items and advise you on what to include on the label.

The Risks of Not Complying with Natasha's Law

The Environmental Health Officers will provide advice and serve an improvement notice if they found that you are distributing PPDS in your hotel and these items are not labelled according to Natasha's Law. Your business can also run the risk of being prosecuted for not adhering to the law. You must apply a risk-based and proportionate approach to ensure compliance.

You could face a more serious offence if they found that you did not indicate the allergens on the food labels of the PPDS. Enforcement officers will most likely take formal action in these cases that could result in prosecution, seizure, and imprisonment.

Aside from the potential reputational damage, you will have to pay fines and face legal punishments if your hotel will not comply with Natasha's law. If the health inspector discovers any issues with the solution you have put in place, you could pay fines of up to £5,000 for every non-compliance. For small businesses, these mistakes can be incredibly costly.

In the case of Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, the CEO of Pret A Manger has released an apology for her death and vowed to implement allergen labels for all their products. Still, they have to bear the consequences of reputational damage. Several media outlets questioned why it took a long time before the company changed their packaging requirements. It was found they were given several warnings in the past due to previous allergen incidents before Natasha's death.

How to Overcome Challenges

Implementing Natasha's law can be a challenge, especially for small and medium-sized hotels. Some have said they have taken the steps to ensure compliance with the law, but only 39% said they provided training to staff about the different types of allergens. It can take time and money to ensure 100% compliance with the law, and more than 60% revealed that they need more financial support from the government to help implement the law.

No matter how much preparation businesses will have, the issues surrounding the flow of information on allergens and ingredients remain a concern for many restaurants. One of the biggest concerns surrounding the law is whether businesses can quickly and accurately get up-to-date information on allergens, especially those hotel restaurants that may need to change ingredients daily. Research shows these businesses are the least prepared in implementing Natasha's Law.

Many smaller companies expressed concern that compliance with the law will be heavily scrutinised. To address these challenges, organisations like the Chartered Trading Standards Institute have provided resources for restaurants to ensure they are compliant.