16 September 2025 marks four years since Natasha’s Law came into effect. Prompted by the tragic death of 15-year-old Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, the law has helped transform how pre-packed food is labelled, giving millions of people with food allergies the vital information they need to stay safe.
This was a landmark moment for food safety in the UK. But while much has changed in those four years, the importance of allergen awareness and consistent food labelling remains as urgent as ever.
Why Natasha’s Law Was Passed
In July 2016, Natasha Ednan-Laperouse suffered a fatal allergic reaction after consuming a baguette containing sesame seeds. The ingredient was not listed on the packaging, as the sandwich had been purchased from a high street retailer and fell under then-current labelling regulations that didn’t require full allergen disclosure on food prepared and packed on-site.
Natasha’s parents, Tanya and Nadim Ednan-Laperouse, campaigned for a change in the law, determined to prevent other families from suffering the same unimaginable loss. Their efforts culminated in the introduction of Natasha’s Law on 1 October 2021.
The legislation requires that all prepacked for direct sale (PPDS) food includes full ingredient lists and allergen information on the label, significantly improving transparency for consumers.
What’s Changed Since 2021?
Natasha’s Law has driven positive changes throughout the food industry:
- Increased Awareness: There’s been a clear shift in public and industry understanding of the risks posed by food allergies. Food safety is now front of mind for many more businesses and consumers.
- Better Training: Many foodservice operators have enhanced their staff training programmes to include allergen handling and communication, especially in schools, universities, cafés, and grab-and-go outlets.
- More Robust Systems: Businesses have adopted better systems and processes to manage allergen labelling, ensuring that food safety isn’t left to chance.
This cultural and procedural shift has already saved lives and prevented countless allergic reactions. But there’s still more work to do.
The Work Is Far From Over
According to the Food Standards Agency, over 2 million people in the UK live with a diagnosed food allergy, many of them children. Despite the progress made, allergen-related incidents and hospitalisations still occur, often due to unclear labelling or inconsistent food preparation practices.
Food allergies don’t pause for busy kitchens or rushed lunchtime queues. That’s why it’s vital that all food businesses, not only major chains, keep improving how they manage allergen risks.
Supporting Food Safety with Smart Solutions
NCCO International is committed to helping foodservice businesses maintain high allergen safety standards through practical, easy-to-use solutions that make compliance second nature.
Here’s how our tools can help support Natasha’s legacy and keep your customers safe:
DateCodeGenie® – Automated Labelling System
DateCodeGenie takes the guesswork out of labelling. With customisable templates, the system prints clear, consistent labels that include allergen and nutritional information, ensuring you stay compliant with Natasha’s Law while improving accuracy and efficiency.
Task Manager – Digital Task Tracking
Our Task Manager replaces paper checklists with digitally scheduled hygiene and food safety tasks, helping teams stay on top of allergen protocols and hygiene practices. It also stores HACCP documentation for easy audits and peace of mind.
Our Task Manager replaces paper checklists with digitally scheduled hygiene and food safety tasks, helping teams stay on top of allergen protocols and hygiene practices. It also stores HACCP documentation for easy audits and peace of mind.
Allergen Labels – Visibility That Protects
Our dedicated allergen labelling range helps kitchens highlight key allergen risks and keep cross-contamination in check. Designed for clarity and ease-of-use, they’re an essential part of any allergen-safe system.
Remembering Natasha, Building a Safer Future
As we reflect on the four years since Natasha’s Law was introduced, we remember Natasha Ednan-Laperouse and the incredible legacy she and her family have created. Their strength has changed the way the UK thinks about food safety and saved lives in the process.
But their mission isn’t complete.
By staying committed to clear labelling, rigorous allergen control, and continuous improvement, we can all play a part in keeping people, especially children, safe from harm. We honour Natasha’s legacy by doing better, every day.
Explore our food safety solutions:
DateCodeGenie® | Task Manager | Allergen Labels
Or contact us to learn how we can help your operation meet the highest safety standards.