UK food labelling changed significantly after Brexit, with new rules coming into force from 2023 onwards. Understanding how to read nutrition labels — traffic light colours, per 100g versus per portion figures, reference intakes, and allergen highlighting — gives you the information to make genuinely informed food choices. For the allergen-specific context, see our guide to all 14 UK allergens and our food allergy versus intolerance guide.
The traffic light system
The UK traffic light labelling system — voluntary but used by most major retailers and brands — shows red, amber, or green for fat, saturated fat, sugars, and salt per portion. Red means high (fat: >17.5g/100g, sat fat: >5g/100g, sugars: >22.5g/100g, salt: >1.5g/100g). Green means low. Most foods are amber on most indicators — the traffic light is most useful for identifying products with multiple red indicators, which signals high processing and poor nutritional density. However, traffic lights alone are a poor guide to overall food quality: many ultra-processed foods achieve amber ratings while providing minimal nutritional value.
Per 100g versus per portion
The per 100g figures allow direct comparison between products. The per portion figures reflect how much you would actually eat — but portions are often unrealistically small (a 30g serving of cereal, a 25g serving of crisps). Both figures are provided on UK labels — use per 100g for comparing products and per portion for understanding the actual nutritional impact of a serving you would realistically consume.
Allergen labelling
Under Natasha's Law, the 14 mandatory allergens must be highlighted in the ingredients list — typically in bold. Allergens can appear anywhere in the ingredients list; you must read the full list rather than relying on the front-of-pack summary. 'May contain' statements are voluntary warnings about cross-contamination — not regulatory requirements — and reflect the manufacturer's assessment of their production environment risk. Vanda's Kitchen provides full Natasha's Law compliant labelling on every item, with our complete allergen matrix available at vandaskitchen.co.uk/pages/allergen-matrix.
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 on every item. Selfridges quality standard. Contact us about corporate catering.