Guide
Do I need to label free samples?
Free does not automatically mean exempt. If samples are food you offer to consumers, allergen information duties still matter. Packed sample bags prepared in advance are often treated like other packed foods — check FSA guidance and your local authority rather than assuming samples skip Natasha’s Law.
Reviewed against official guidance.SourcesNot legal advice.
Samples are still food
Offering a bite on a tray and handing out sealed sample pouches are different operations. Loose tasting pieces usually need accurate allergen information available at the point of offer. Prepacked sample bags with a sealed portion inside look like PPDS or other packed food and should not go out without clear ingredients and allergen emphasis.
Practical approaches
- Print mini labels for sealed sample packs using the same ingredients list as the full product
- For open tasting, keep a matrix or ingredient sheet at the table and train staff
- Never rely on “it’s only a sample” when nuts, milk or gluten are present
Ask your authority
Sample policies can be nuanced. A short email to your local authority food team with a photo of your sample format prevents guesswork.
Questions
Are supermarket-style free tasters PPDS?
Can I use the full product label wording?
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
- Food allergen labelling and information requirements technical guidanceFood Standards Agency / GOV.UK