Labelling food products

All prepacked food must have a food label that includes certain mandatory information. This applies even to food provided free of charge, for example as part of promotion.

What is prepacked food?

Prepacked food is food put into packaging before the consumer selects or orders it. For example, a bar of chocolate, a sealed pack of crisps, a jar of sauce or a can of soup. The legal definition of prepacked food is contained in Regulation (EC) 1169/2011.

To be considered prepacked, the following must apply:

• the packaging fully or partly encloses the food
• the food cannot be altered without opening or changing the packaging
• the product is ready for sale to the final customer or mass caterer

Labelling for prepacked food which is not produced on site will usually be produced by the food manufacturer or packer. However, if you place food on the market under your name, you should make sure the label information is accurate, clear and easy to understand. 

Labelling of prepacked food

The following information must appear by law on food labels and packaging:

• name of the food
• list of ingredients
• allergen information - see food allergen labelling
• quantitative declaration of ingredients (QUID)
• net quantity of food - ie the weight or volume of the food
• date labelling - either a 'best before' or 'use by' date
• storage conditions and/or conditions of use
• name and address of manufacturer (or the importer in some cases)
• country of origin or place of provenance (if required)
• preparation instructions
• nutrition declaration - see nutrition labelling
• the alcoholic strength by volume on drinks containing over 1.2% alcohol by volume

Food sold in Northern Ireland must include the name and address of the Northern Ireland or EU business responsible for the information on the food, unless brought into Northern Ireland via the Northern Ireland Retail Movement Scheme (in which case NIRMS requirements apply). If the responsible business is not established in NI or the EU, you must include the name and address of the importer. 

Northern Ireland Retail Movement Scheme (NIRMS) and labelling

For retail, prepacked goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland via NIRMS, the business or trader moving the goods must ensure that the NIMRS labelling requirements are met, and that the goods follow the existing food packaging and labelling regulations that apply in the UK and include any health and identification marks needed.

Additional labelling statements and warnings

Some products must include additional labelling requirements, for example where the food contains:

• sweeteners or sugars
• aspartame and colourings
• liquorice
• caffeine
• polyols

Read more about labelling of prepacked food.  If your product is subject to marketing standards, you may need to include extra information on labels to meet those rules.

Labelling of prepacked for direct sale food

Food that is packaged at the same place it is offered or sold to consumers, and is in this packaging before it is ordered or selected, is considered prepacked for direct sale (PPDS).

PPDS food can include:

• sandwiches or salads packaged and sold from the same premises
• fast food wrapped or packaged before a customer selects them
• supermarket products produced and packaged in store

This can include food selected by the customers, pre-wrapped products kept behind a counter and some food sold at mobile or temporary outlets.

You can use the Food Standards Agency's allergen and ingredients food labelling tool to check if your business sells PPDS food.

All PPDS food must have a label showing:

• the name of the food
• a full ingredients list, with the 14 allergens emphasised within it

Read more about food labelling requirements for the prepacked for direct sale food.

Non-prepacked food

Any food that is not in packaging, or is packaged after being ordered by the consumer, is considered non-prepacked food (often described as ‘loose food’).

Loose food does not require a full label with name and ingredients in the same way as the prepacked food. However, allergen information must still be provided to consumers for non-prepacked food. This can be provided in writing or orally, but it must be accurate, consistent and supported by information that can be checked and verified.