Glossary
PPDS
Prepacked for direct sale — food packed before the customer selects it, sold by the same business from the same premises or location.
Reviewed against official guidance.SourcesNot legal advice.
In practice
PPDS food must show the name of the food and a full ingredients list with the 14 allergens emphasised. It is the category Natasha’s Law tightened.
On LabelClear we keep this definition tight so every guide uses the same meaning. If your situation is unusual, check with your local authority.
Questions
Is a fridge sandwich PPDS?
Usually yes, if it was wrapped before the customer chose it and you sell it from the same premises. Made-to-order sandwiches are typically not PPDS.
Is PPDS the same as supermarket prepacked?
No. Fully prepacked food sold through another business has a wider set of labelling particulars. PPDS is packed and sold by the same business from the same site.
Official sources
Everything on this page traces back to these. Where they and we disagree, they are right — tell us and we'll fix it.
- Introduction to allergen labelling for PPDS foodFood Standards Agency / GOV.UK
- Labelling guidance for prepacked for direct sale (PPDS) food productsFood Standards Agency / GOV.UK
Related: PPDS food · What is PPDS food? · Natasha’s Law