Name of the food
The legal or customary name that clearly identifies what the product is.
BEFORE YOUR DESIGN GOES TO PRINT
Preparing a product label
for the UK market.
This practical starting point helps small businesses collect the information a professional designer will need. Requirements can vary by product, claims, and sales channel—confirm your specific obligations with the Food Standards Agency.
GENERAL LABEL CHECKLIST
Information to gather
Ingredients
A complete list of every ingredient in descending order by weight.
Allergens
All 14 major allergens present must be visually emphasised — bold, capitals, or a contrasting style — within the ingredient list itself.
Net quantity
State the net amount of food in metric units (g, kg, mL, L); imperial units may be shown alongside them.
Durability date
A "best before" (minimum durability) date, or a "use by" date for highly perishable products.
Storage and use
Any special storage conditions or instructions for use where needed to make appropriate use of the product.
Responsible business
The name and a UK address of the food business operator — this must specifically be a UK address for products sold in Great Britain.
Country of origin
Required for certain products and whenever its omission could mislead the consumer.
Language
English is required on the label.
Food and beverage products
Alcoholic beverages over 1.2% ABV must also state the actual alcoholic strength by volume. Prepacked-for-direct-sale items (made and packed on the same premises they're sold from, like a made-to-order sandwich) fall under separate "Natasha's Law" rules requiring the full ingredient list directly on the label — this is unlikely to apply to a manufactured retail product, but worth ruling out for your specific sales channel.
AUTHORITATIVE NEXT STEPS
Food Standards Agency — Packaging and LabellingOfficial overview of UK requirementsFSA — Allergen Labelling for Food ManufacturersDetailed allergen requirementsThe Food Information Regulations 2014The regulation itself, via legislation.gov.ukReviewed against official UK sources on 20 August 2026. Regulations and standards can change; verify again before production.