Bedfordshire businesses helped to get ready for food labelling changes
Central Beds Council are encouraging outlets to get ready for October's deadline
A new law on food labelling is to be introduced later this year, so now Bedfordshire businesses are getting help to be ready.
Natasha's Law requires food packed on the same site from which it's sold to be labelled with full ingredients - with Central Beds Council saying they'll get outlets ready in time for October's deadline.
Prepacked for direct sale (PPDS) foods can include salads and sandwiches that customers select themselves as well as pre-wrapped foods kept behind a counter, as well as some products packaged and sold at mobile or temporary outlets.
Sushma Acharya, Head of Policy and Strategy for Food Hypersensitivity at the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has welcomed further support for businesses and said:
"To help support food businesses, the FSA has launched a PPDS Hub featuring helpful information including new labelling guidance for PPDS foods and sector guides.
"The guides for bakery, butchers, fast food and takeaways, mobile sellers, restaurants, cafes and pubs, and schools each give practical information on PPDS and how these changes could impact a food business.
"As well as this, the FSA will be hosting a webinar for food businesses on 4 August. This webinar is open to business across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and will feature a range of speakers including business representatives who will talk more about what they've done to prepare for these changes and what they've learnt along the way."
Executive Member for Community Services, Cllr Ian Dalgarno said:
"With less than 3 months to go, we are working with the FSA and are encouraging food businesses currently selling PPDS products to visit the FSA website and register for the food business webinar.
"It is important that businesses make full use of the information available ahead of the 1 October deadline."
To register for the PPDS webinar, visit www.ppdsbusiness.fsaevents.co.uk/home
If you cannot make the webinar, a recording will be made available on the PPDS Hub of the FSA website for you to view afterwards.