Food offered to customers must be safe to eat and accurately described. Food businesses must ensure that products are correctly labelled and meet any relevant compositional standards. This helps consumers make informed choices about what they buy and eat.
Legal responsibilities
Food businesses must:
- label food clearly and accurately
- meet compositional standards where required
- ensure food is safe and of satisfactory quality
You can find out more on what food information needs to be provided to consumers at Gov.uk: Food labelling - giving food information to consumers.
We carry out inspections and investigate complaints to check that food labelling, composition, advertising and presentation comply with regulations. We also offer advice and may take samples for testing by a public analyst.
Food labelling legislation
In England:
- the Food Standards Agency (FSA) oversees food safety-related labelling, including allergens.
- the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) is responsible for non-safety-related labelling and compositional standards.
- the Department of Health and Social Care manages nutrition policy and labelling.
Useful guidance:
- FSA: Packaging and labelling
- FSA: Allergen guidance for food businesses
- FSA: Allergen labelling for food manufacturers
- Business Companion: Food and drink law guides
Compositional standards
Certain foods have product specific regulations setting out compositional standards which apply to certain foods which businesses must follow. These standards apply to foods which consumers expect to be of a certain quality and foods at risk of substitution to a lower quality. For further information go to: Gov.uk: Food standards, labelling and composition
Nutrition labelling
Nutrition labelling is mandatory for most pre-packed foods, with some exemptions. Labels must follow specific layout and content rules.
Full implementation guidance can be found at:
Gov.uk: Calorie labelling in the out-of-home sector
Other guidance:
- Department of Health and Social Care Technical guidance on nutrition labelling
- Business Companion: Nutrition declaration
- Free menu calorie calculator
Additional information can be provided on a voluntary basis such as traffic light labelling.
Nutrition and health claims
Specific regulations govern labelling requirements for food producers that wish to make claims about their products, such as low fat and lowers cholesterol.
Guidance:
Food allergens and labelling
Food businesses must:
- provide allergen information for both pre-packed and non-prepacked food
- manage allergens safely during food preparation
- follow Natasha’s Law for prepacked for direct sale (PPDS) foods
See our Food Allergens and Labelling page for more information.
Durability dates
Most foods must display a:
- use by date – for perishable foods. It is illegal to sell food past this date.
- best before date – for foods that remain safe but may lose quality. Selling food past this date is not automatically an offence.
Learn more:
- FSA: Best before and use by dates
- Business Companion: Date and lot marking
- Gov.uk: Food waste and Surplus Food
Need help?
For advice or to request a free advisory visit email:
HBC.CommercialServicesTeam@hartlepool.gov.uk