Natasha's Law came into force on 1 October 2021. In October 2026, it marks five years. This assessment examines what has genuinely changed in corporate catering and what still falls short.
What has improved
The most significant change: awareness and prioritisation of allergen labelling among professional caterers. Food businesses that had no systematic allergen management in 2021 have largely implemented labelling systems. The number of corporate caterers providing allergen matrices has increased substantially. The cultural shift — allergen management as a baseline professional standard rather than a special request — is genuinely visible.
What still falls short
Self-declared allergen-free claims without structural kitchen separation remain common. The distinction between 'we have allergen-free products' and 'we have a dedicated allergen-free kitchen' is not reliably communicated. The gap between labelling compliance and genuine safety — a correctly labelled product prepared in a cross-contamination-prone environment — is still not well understood by many food businesses.
The standard the law intended
Vanda's Kitchen's dedicated nut-free kitchen and full allergen labelling reflects the standard Natasha's Law was intended to normalise — a standard that more of the corporate catering market should meet. See our nut-free catering page, our allergen matrix, and our corporate catering guide.
For more health and nutrition guidance, explore the Vanda's Kitchen blog. Our certified halal, 100% nut-free kitchen at Carter Lane EC4 delivers freshly prepared food to City offices daily. View our team lunch menu or WhatsApp us. Full allergen labelling. Selfridges quality. Corporate invoice accounts. Contact us to discuss your requirements.
Frequently asked questions
What does Natasha's Law actually require food businesses to do?
Natasha's Law, which came into force on 1 October 2021, requires that food prepacked for direct sale — food packaged on the premises where it is sold — must carry a full ingredients list with the 14 major allergens highlighted. This closed a previous gap where grab-and-go food prepared and packaged on site was exempt from the full labelling requirements that applied to pre-packaged supermarket food.
Does Natasha's Law apply to food delivered to offices by caterers?
Yes. Food that is individually packaged prior to delivery — as is standard for individually portioned corporate catering — falls within Natasha's Law scope. Each item must carry a full ingredients list with allergens identified. Caterers providing individually wrapped lunches or breakfast items must apply this labelling to every piece. Vanda's Kitchen provides full Natasha's Law labelling on every item as standard.
What is the difference between allergen labelling compliance and a genuinely allergen-safe kitchen?
Correct labelling identifies allergens present in a product but does not guarantee that allergens are absent from the production environment. A kitchen producing both nut-containing and nut-free products with shared equipment may correctly label both, yet cross-contamination risk remains. A structurally nut-free kitchen — where no nuts are present at all — eliminates that risk. These are distinct levels of protection.
What are the penalties for not complying with Natasha's Law?
Non-compliance with Natasha's Law allergen labelling requirements is a criminal offence under UK food safety legislation. Local authority enforcement can issue improvement notices, prohibit the sale of non-compliant food, and pursue prosecution. There is no fixed penalty schedule — sanctions can include unlimited fines and, in serious cases involving injury, custodial sentences.
How should a corporate buyer verify a caterer's allergen management before placing an order?
Request to see a sample label from a delivered item and an allergen matrix covering the full menu. Ask specifically whether any allergen-free claims are backed by dedicated kitchen separation or are managed procedurally with shared equipment. A reputable caterer will answer both questions without hesitation and be able to direct you to their food hygiene rating on the FSA register.