Free webinar to guide food businesses on new laws and regulations around food allergens

Trading Standards departments in Cheshire West and Chester, Cheshire East, and Warrington Councils are inviting local businesses to a free workshop to help them comply with crucial laws and regulations around food allergens and labelling.

The online workshop will take place on Wednesday 10 November from 2pm to 4:30pm.

The workshop comes after Natasha’s Law came into force on 1 October which brought significant changes for labelling of food pre-packed for direct sale (PPDS). PPDS is food which is packaged at the same place it is offered or sold to consumers and is in this packaging before it is ordered or selected. It can include food that consumers select themselves (for example, from a display unit), as well as products kept behind a counter and some food sold at mobile or temporary outlets.

This law is named after the late Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, who suffered a fatal allergic reaction at just 15 years of age after eating an ‘artichoke, olive and tapenade’ baguette purchased at Pret a Manger. Natasha had a sesame allergy and wasn’t aware that sesame seeds had been pre-baked into the bread.

Any food business selling PPDS food will be required to label it with the name of the food and full list of ingredients with allergenic ingredients emphasised within the list.

To sign up for the online workshop which will take place, businesses are asked to go to:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/managing-allergens-for-food-and-drink-businesses-tickets-190199781667.

You will have an opportunity to submit your questions in advance and the link to attend will be sent directly to you.