Food labelling in the UK is governed by a comprehensive set of regulations designed to ensure consumers have accurate information about what they are eating. As a registered nutritionist, I regularly help both individuals understand food labels and businesses ensure their products meet legal requirements. Here is a complete guide to UK food labelling regulations.
What Must Appear on a Food Label in the UK
All pre-packed foods sold in the UK must display the following information:
- Product name — a clear, accurate description of the food.
- Ingredients list — listed in descending order of weight, with allergens emphasised (typically in bold).
- Nutrition declaration — energy (kJ and kcal), fat, saturates, carbohydrate, sugars, protein, and salt per 100g or 100ml. Per portion information is optional but recommended.
- Net quantity — weight or volume of the product.
- Date marking — "use by" for safety-critical products, "best before" for quality.
- Storage conditions — how to store the product safely.
- Business name and address — of the manufacturer, packer, or seller.
- Country of origin — required for certain products including meat, olive oil, and honey.
Nutrition Labelling: The Traffic Light System
The UK uses a voluntary front-of-pack traffic light labelling system that shows at a glance whether a product is high (red), medium (amber), or low (green) in fat, saturated fat, sugars, and salt. While this system is not legally mandatory, most major UK retailers and many manufacturers use it, and it is endorsed by the Food Standards Agency.
The colour coding is based on reference intake values: red means the product contains more than 25% of an adult's daily reference intake for that nutrient per portion. Understanding these labels is one of the most practical tools for making healthier food choices. For more on this, read my guide on how to read a food label.
Allergen Labelling: Natasha's Law
Since October 2021, Natasha's Law (named after Natasha Ednan-Laperouse) requires all food businesses to provide full ingredient and allergen labelling on pre-packed for direct sale (PPDS) food. This includes sandwiches, salads, and baked goods prepared and packed on the same premises where they are sold.
The 14 major allergens that must be declared are: celery, cereals containing gluten, crustaceans, eggs, fish, lupin, milk, molluscs, mustard, nuts, peanuts, sesame, soya, and sulphur dioxide.
Calorie Labelling for Eating Out
Since April 2022, large food businesses in England with 250 or more employees must display calorie information on menus, including dine-in, takeaway, and delivery menus. This applies to restaurants, cafes, takeaways, and food delivery platforms.
HFSS and Labelling
Food labelling is closely tied to the HFSS regulations, as the nutrient profiling model uses the same nutritional data that appears on labels to classify products. Accurate labelling is therefore essential not only for consumer information but also for regulatory compliance with HFSS promotion restrictions.
Common Labelling Mistakes Businesses Make
- Incomplete allergen declarations — failing to highlight all allergens in the ingredients list, or missing cross-contamination warnings.
- Incorrect nutrition calculations — using recipe-based estimates rather than laboratory analysis can lead to inaccurate declarations.
- Misleading health claims — terms like "natural", "clean", or "superfood" are not legally defined and can mislead consumers. Only approved nutrition and health claims can be used under EU-retained regulations.
- Missing PPDS labelling — food businesses that prepare and sell food on the same premises sometimes overlook Natasha's Law requirements.
Need Help with Food Labelling?
Whether you are a food business needing guidance on labelling compliance, nutrition profiling, or developing a nutrition strategy, or an individual wanting to better understand food labels, I can provide practical, evidence-based support.
If you would like support with food labelling regulations or nutrition guidance, I offer one-to-one consultations. View my consultation packages or book a free discovery call to discuss how I can help.