What Is PPDS Food? Examples, Rules and Labelling Requirements

The definition of PPDS food

Food is classified as pre-packed for direct sale (PPDS) when it meets all three of the following conditions:

• It is packaged before the point of sale — i.e. it's wrapped or sealed before the customer orders or selects it
• It is packaged at the same premises where it is sold to the final consumer
• It is sold directly to the consumer — not to another business for resale

The key distinction from ordinary pre-packed food is that PPDS food is packaged on-site, at the place of sale. A sandwich made and wrapped in a café is PPDS. The same sandwich made in a factory and shipped to a supermarket is pre-packed (not PPDS) and has different labelling requirements.

PPDS food examples

The following are all PPDS food — they must carry Natasha's Law compliant labels:

What is NOT PPDS food

The following are not PPDS and have different labelling rules:

What labelling does PPDS food require?

Since Natasha's Law (October 2021), all PPDS food must carry:

• The name of the food
• A full ingredients list — all ingredients in descending order by weight at the time of manufacture
• Allergens emphasised — the 14 major allergens must be highlighted within the ingredients list (e.g. in bold)

The grey areas

Some situations are less clear-cut. Here are the most common edge cases:

Online orders collected in person

If a customer orders online and collects from your premises, and the food is packaged before they arrive, it is PPDS. The fact that the order was placed online doesn't change the classification.

Delivery to customers

If you package food at your premises and deliver it to customers, this is generally considered PPDS — the food is packaged at the place of production and sold directly to the consumer.

Selling at markets or events

If you package your products at home or at a production kitchen before taking them to a market, they are PPDS. If you make and package them at the market stall itself, they are still PPDS (packaged at the same premises where sold).

Selling to other businesses (wholesale)

If you sell to another business (e.g. a café buying your cakes to resell), this is not PPDS — it's a business-to-business sale. However, the café that then sells your cakes to consumers may need to label them as PPDS.

Penalties for non-compliance

Local authority environmental health officers enforce Natasha's Law. Penalties include improvement notices, prosecution, unlimited fines and prohibition orders. Beyond legal consequences, an allergen incident can cause serious harm to customers and irreparable damage to your business reputation.

PPDS vs pre-packed food: what's the difference?

This is one of the most common points of confusion for small food businesses. PPDS and pre-packed food are not the same category — and they have different labelling requirements.

PPDS food is packaged at the same premises where it is sold to the final consumer. The business making the food and the business selling it to the customer are the same. Examples: a bakery selling its own cakes in the same shop, a market stall seller who packages products at home and sells them at the market, a meal prep business delivering directly to customers.

Pre-packed food (not PPDS) is packaged away from the point of sale — typically in a factory or production facility — and then sold at a separate retail location. Examples: a supermarket selling branded ready meals manufactured at a factory, a café selling crisps or chocolate bars produced elsewhere.

The key practical question is: did the business that made the food also package it at the place where it is being sold to the customer? If yes, it's PPDS. If the packaging happened elsewhere (a factory, a different site), it's pre-packed with different — typically more extensive — labelling requirements.

How to create compliant PPDS labels

What information must appear on the label

A compliant PPDS label under Natasha's Law must include:

• The name of the food — the product name, clearly stated
• A full ingredients list — all ingredients in descending order by weight at the time of manufacture
• Allergens emphasised in bold — all 14 major allergens must stand out clearly within the ingredients list (bold is the standard method)

Note: PPDS labels do not currently require a "best before" date, storage instructions, or nutritional information — though including them is good practice and some businesses choose to do so.

Format requirements

The allergens must be emphasised — typically by printing them in bold within the ingredients list. Simply listing "Contains: milk, eggs, wheat" alongside the ingredients list is not sufficient; the allergens must be highlighted within the ingredients list itself. Sub-ingredients of compound ingredients (e.g. the ingredients inside a pre-made sauce or spice blend) must also be listed in brackets, with their allergens similarly emphasised.

Common mistakes to avoid

• "May contain" statements do not replace ingredient labelling. A "made in a kitchen that handles nuts" statement does not satisfy Natasha's Law. You must list all ingredients with allergens in bold.
• Outdated labels. If a recipe changes and the label is not updated before the product is sold, the label is non-compliant even if the original label was correct.
• Missing sub-ingredient allergens. If you use a compound ingredient (e.g. a bought-in sauce or spice blend), its sub-ingredients — including any allergens — must appear on the label.
• Ingredients not in weight order. Ingredients must be listed in descending order by weight at the time of manufacture — not in order of addition or by importance.

Digital vs printed labels — what's acceptable

The label must be on or attached to the packaging — a QR code linking to a digital label, or allergen information available only on request, does not satisfy Natasha's Law for PPDS food. The full ingredients list with allergens in bold must be physically present on the product at the time of sale. Printed labels on standard label paper, affixed to the packaging, are the standard approach for most small food businesses.

How FoodCore automates this

FoodCore generates compliant PPDS labels automatically from your recipes — ingredients in order, allergens in bold, ready to print. Build your recipe once in FoodCore by adding ingredients with quantities. FoodCore detects all 14 major allergens automatically, generates the label in the correct format, and lets you print directly from your browser. When a recipe changes, the label updates instantly — no separate file to find and edit.

Frequently asked questions about PPDS

What does PPDS stand for?

PPDS stands for Pre-Packed for Direct Sale. It is a legal category of food under UK food law.

What does PPDS mean in food?

In food law, PPDS describes food that is packaged at the same premises where it is sold directly to the final consumer, before the customer orders or selects it. PPDS food has specific labelling requirements under Natasha's Law — a full ingredients list with allergens highlighted in bold.

What are PPDS foods?

Examples of PPDS foods include: sandwiches made and wrapped in a café, cakes and pastries displayed pre-wrapped in a bakery, salads or ready meals packaged in a farm shop, homemade products packaged before a market stall, meal prep boxes sealed before customer collection, and biscuits or chocolates boxed at a pop-up or event.

What is a PPDS label?

A PPDS label is the label required on pre-packed for direct sale food under Natasha's Law. It must include the name of the food and a full ingredients list in descending order by weight, with all 14 major allergens emphasised in bold within that list. The label must be on or attached to the packaging.

What does PPDS food mean for my business?

If your business sells PPDS food, you are legally required to label every product with a compliant label. This means maintaining a full and accurate ingredients list for every product, ensuring allergens are highlighted in bold within the list, and updating labels whenever a recipe changes. Non-compliance can result in enforcement action, unlimited fines, and in serious cases prosecution.

What is the PPDS rule?

The PPDS rule is the requirement under Natasha's Law (the Food Information (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2021) for all PPDS food in the UK to carry a full ingredients list with allergens emphasised in bold. It came into force on 1 October 2021 and applies in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

How do I create a PPDS label?

With FoodCore: build your recipe by adding ingredients with quantities, the system automatically detects all 14 allergens and generates a compliant label with ingredients in descending weight order and allergens in bold, then print directly from your browser. When a recipe changes, the label updates automatically. Try FoodCore free →

What are the penalties for not having PPDS labels?

Local authority environmental health officers enforce PPDS labelling requirements. Penalties include improvement notices, unlimited fines, prohibition orders preventing trading, and in serious cases prosecution. An allergen incident caused by an incorrect or missing label can also lead to civil claims and serious reputational damage.