What PPDS means
PPDS food is packaged at the same place it is offered or sold to consumers and is already in that packaging before it is ordered or selected. The customer can pick it up, or staff can hand it over, without the food being packed after the order is made. That timing is the heart of the rule.
Common examples include sandwiches packed on site and displayed for sale, bakery items bagged before selection, salads or pasta pots prepared and packed in the shop, burgers under a hot lamp that cannot be changed without opening the packaging, and foods packed on site for sale at a market stall operated by the same business.
- Packed before the customer chooses or orders.
- Packed at the same place it is sold or offered.
- Sold directly to the final consumer.
What the label must show
PPDS food must have the name of the food and a full ingredients list. Allergenic ingredients from the UK list of 14 allergens must be emphasized within that ingredients list. Emphasis can be bold type, capital letters, contrasting color or another clear style, but it should be consistent and easy to read.
The rule is not satisfied by a simple may contain note or a sign telling customers to ask staff. Staff knowledge is still important, but PPDS food needs ingredient and allergen information on the package itself. The label should travel with the individual food item so the customer can read it at the point of selection and after purchase.
The 14 allergens
The UK allergen list includes cereals containing gluten, crustaceans, eggs, fish, peanuts, soybeans, milk, nuts, celery, mustard, sesame, sulphur dioxide and sulphites above the relevant threshold, lupin and molluscs. The label should identify the allergen clearly in the ingredient list, not rely only on a brand name or vague description.
For compound ingredients, work through the sub-ingredients. A sauce, dressing, bread, chocolate chip, spice blend or mayonnaise can carry allergens that are easy to miss. Your supplier specification should match the ingredient list you print. If a supplier changes a recipe, your PPDS label may need to change before the next batch is sold.
- Check every compound ingredient.
- Emphasize allergens in the ingredients list.
- Keep supplier specs current.
What is not PPDS
Food that is not packaged, or that is packaged only after the customer orders it, is not PPDS. Food packed by one business and supplied to another business is usually prepacked food, not PPDS, and already has full food labelling duties. Distance selling has separate allergen information rules before purchase and at delivery.
The distinction can be narrow. A sandwich made and wrapped after the customer orders is treated differently from a sandwich wrapped in the morning and displayed in a chiller. A cake slice placed in a bag after selection is different from cake slices boxed and sealed before selection. Build your workflow around the exact point when packaging happens.
Operational checks
A PPDS label is only as reliable as the process behind it. Keep approved recipes, ingredient specs, allergen matrices and label templates together. Train staff not to swap ingredients, toppings or breads without updating the label. Store printed labels so the right label is used for the right product and date.
Think about rush periods. Many allergen incidents happen when a product is reformulated, a supplier sends an alternative, or a team member grabs the wrong label roll. If a product changes during the day, stop using the old labels. A clear process is more useful than a perfect spreadsheet no one follows.
Plain-language example
A simple PPDS label for a cheese and pickle sandwich would show the food name, then ingredients such as bread with WHEAT emphasized, cheese with MILK emphasized, pickle ingredients, spread ingredients and any other components. The allergen emphasis is inside the ingredients list, not only in a separate summary.
You can add a separate allergen summary if it is accurate and does not conflict with the ingredients list, but the full ingredients list with emphasized allergens is the core requirement. Keep the label readable at actual pack size and make sure price stickers do not cover the information.
Frequently asked questions
What does PPDS stand for?
PPDS means prepacked for direct sale. It is food packed at the same place it is sold before the customer orders or selects it.
What changed under Natasha's Law?
From 1 October 2021, PPDS food in the UK needs the food name and a full ingredients list with the 14 allergens emphasized.
Is a may contain label enough for PPDS?
No. PPDS food needs full ingredient information with allergens emphasized. Precautionary allergen wording is a separate issue.
Are foods packed after ordering PPDS?
Usually no. Foods packed after a consumer orders are non-prepacked, though allergen information still must be provided by other required means.
Do online orders follow Natasha's Law?
Distance selling has separate requirements. Mandatory allergen information must be available before purchase and at delivery.