Food hygiene for businesses

This page provides information for food businesses on the Food Information Regulations 2014. If you are a consumer wanting to learn more about the regulations, more details can be found on our information for consumers page.

Food Information Regulations 2014 (FIR) now require food businesses to provide allergy information on food sold unpackaged, in for example catering outlets, deli counters, bakeries and sandwich bars. The legislation also applies to labelling allergenic ingredients in pre-packed foods.

Guidance for food businesses that sell loose food

If your food business provides meals in a café, restaurant or takeaway, food that you wrap yourself, such as loose bread rolls, sandwiches, cakes, deli products or other unpackaged foods or provides institutional catering such as in schools, hospitals and care homes, further information on how the new regulations will affect you can be found on the Food Standards Agency website.

Guidance for small and medium food businesses producing pre-packed foods

If your business produces pre-packed foods, further information on how the new regulations will affect the way you label your products can be found on the Food Standards Agency website.

Pre-packed refers to any food put into packaging before being placed on sale, when all the following things apply:

• the food is either fully or partly enclosed by the packaging
• the food cannot be altered without opening or changing the packaging
• the product is ready for sale to the public or to a catering establishment