Starting a Food Business? Your Labelling Checklist

Before You Start

Congratulations on starting your food business! Whether you're launching a sauce brand, opening a bakery, or selling homemade treats at markets, getting your labelling right from day one will save you headaches later.

This guide covers everything you need on your food labels to be legally compliant in the UK.

The Mandatory Information

Every pre-packed food product must display:

1. Name of the Food

A clear description of what the product is. This should be specific enough that customers know exactly what they're buying.

Good: "Strawberry Jam with Champagne"

Bad: "Grandma's Special Recipe"

2. Ingredients List

All ingredients listed in descending order by weight. This includes:

Water (if added)

Additives (with their function and name/E-number)

Compound ingredients (broken down if over 2% of the product)

3. Allergen Information

The 14 major allergens must be emphasised (typically in bold) within the ingredients list. There's no exceptions—even traces matter.

4. Net Quantity

The weight or volume of the product in metric units (g, kg, ml, l). Must be accurate and verifiable.

5. Date Marking

Either a "use by" date (for safety) or "best before" date (for quality), depending on your product type.

6. Storage Conditions

How to store the product to achieve the stated shelf life. Essential for anything requiring refrigeration.

7. Business Name and Address

Your business name and a UK address where you can be contacted. A website alone isn't sufficient.

8. Country of Origin

Required for certain foods (meat, honey, olive oil, fresh produce) and where omission might mislead consumers.

9. Instructions for Use

If needed to use the product correctly or safely.

10. Nutrition Declaration

The "Big 7" nutrients per 100g: energy (kJ/kcal), fat, saturates, carbohydrate, sugars, protein, and salt.

What About Markets and Events?

If you're selling at farmers' markets or food festivals, the rules depend on how you sell:

Pre-packed

Full labelling required, same as retail.

Pre-packed for Direct Sale (PPDS)

Packaged on-site before the customer selects it. Requires food name, full ingredients list, and allergen emphasis (Natasha's Law).

Loose/Non-Prepacked

Allergen information must be available (can be verbal with written backup), but full labelling isn't required.

Common First-Timer Mistakes

1. Copying Competitors

Their labels might be wrong too. Always verify against current regulations.

2. Using Recipe Software for Nutrition

Generic nutrition calculators don't account for cooking losses or UK-specific requirements.

3. Forgetting to Update Labels

Changed your recipe? Your label needs to change too.

4. Underestimating Allergen Complexity

"May contain" statements should be based on risk assessment, not used as a catch-all disclaimer.

5. Ignoring Font Size Rules

The 1.2mm x-height minimum is smaller than you think, but still a legal requirement.

Your Pre-Launch Checklist

Before your first sale, verify:

[ ] Food name is clear and accurate

[ ] Ingredients listed in weight order

[ ] All allergens emphasised in bold

[ ] Net quantity is accurate

[ ] Date marking is appropriate (use by vs best before)

[ ] Storage instructions included

[ ] Business name and UK address shown

[ ] Country of origin included (if required)

[ ] Nutrition information per 100g

[ ] Font size meets minimum requirements

[ ] Label is legible and durable

How Crumpet Gets You Started

Crumpet guides you through every requirement. Build your recipe, and we'll generate compliant labels with:

Automatic allergen detection and emphasis

Ingredients sorted by weight

Accurate nutrition calculations from official UK data

All mandatory fields included

Print-ready exports for your packaging

Start your free account and create your first compliant label in minutes—not days.