Food allergen labelling and information requirements technical guidance: Summary

Important

This guidance has been published as a result of a consultation which took place from March - May 2023. 

Revision history

August 2023    

• Updated/amended wording in paragraphs: 13; 23-25; Best practice box under para. 25; 31; Best practice box under para. 38; 61; 78-80; Best practice boxes under para. 84; 88; 92; Glossary definition for coeliac disease.
• Section ‘Presentation of Voluntary Information on Prepacked Foods’ para. 64-68, plus Best Practice box added. 
• NGCI statements has moved from Part 1 para. 31 to Part 2 para. 88.  

Revised by: Food Hypersensitivity Policy Team

July 2023    

• Review and update of formatting in line with FSA branding requirements.    

Revised by: Food Hypersensitivity Policy Team

June 2023    

• Review and update of best practices on Precautionary Allergen Labelling (PAL) and Non-Gluten Containing Ingredient (NGCI) statements.  
• Review of legal references on Prepacked food for Direct Sale (PPDS). 
• Updated paragraphs: Legal status, Review date, 1 - 4, 7 - 9, 13, 16, 23 - 24, 26, 28, 31, 38, 71 - 76, 84 and 97 – 98.
• Removed paragraphs from currently published version of guidance: 5, 17 – 19 and 78 – 82.
• All hyperlinks, page and paragraph references throughout the document have been updated in line with revisions.    

Revised by: Food Hypersensitivity Policy Team 

18 June 2020     

• Complete document has been updated into the latest FSA guidance format. Additional text and examples have been added on prepacked for direct sale specifically paragraphs 16 to 18, 86 to 99 and the Reference and Resources page, Paragraph 32 has also been updated in light of Regulation 828/2014.  References to Scotland have been removed throughout the document.     

Reviewed by: Food Allergy, Intolerance and Food Hypersensitivity Team 

10 April 2015     

• Updated advice in paras 1, 10, 14 - 20, 31, 33, 34, 36, 39, 40, 48 – 50, 52, 55, 56, 58, 59, 65, 66 (example), 72, 73, 74 – 76, 78, 79, 82, 83, 90 – 93, 95 – 98 and References and Resources page.     

Reviewed by: Food Allergy Branch 

Purpose

This publication aims to help food businesses follow allergen labelling requirements. It will also help authorised food officers enforce these measures.

Legal status

This is Best Practice Guidance (for example, helpful examples of approaches you might employ but which you are not legally required to follow) and Regulatory Compliance (i.e., how to comply with regulatory requirements).

Who is this publication for?

This guidance is for:

• all food manufacturers, importers, and producers 
• retailers, institutional caterers, and other food businesses 
• packers 
• enforcement authorities 

Which UK countries does this guidance apply to?

• England
• Wales
• Northern Ireland

Review date

We will review this guidance by December 2024

Key words

• Allergy and intolerance 
• Precautionary allergen labelling
• Gluten-free
• Non-gluten containing ingredients
• Prepacked food 
• Non-prepacked food 
• Prepacked for direct sale food