Food labelling and composition is controlled by Regulations made under the Food Safety Act 1990. These matters are of paramount importance to public health and well-being.

In particular, clear and honest labelling is essential for those who suffer allergies to foods such as nuts, dairy or wheat, and to those with medical conditions requiring strict regulation of diet.

Our Trading Standards Service takes samples of foods for analysis and testing for composition, quality and accuracy of the labelling. Our specialist officers also provide advice and guidance to local businesses on the composition and labelling of their products.

Foods which are not up to standard are removed from sale by working in co-operation with the Food Standards Agency.

Allergy alert

The Food Labelling Regulations require that packaged food should state on the label the presence of certain ingredients, that have shown to cause allergic reactions in some people. The list of allergens covered are:-

• cereals containing gluten (wheat, rye, barley, oats, spelt, kamut or their hybridised strains)
• crustaceans
• fish
• eggs
• peanuts
• soybeans
• milk
• nuts (almond, hazelnut, walnut, cashew, pecan nut, Brazil nut, pistachio nut, macadamia nut and Queensland nut)
• celery
• mustard
• sesame seeds
• sulphur dioxide and sulphites (above a set level)
• lupin
• molluscs

There are a number of food ingredients, derived from these allergens, that are exempt from the labelling, because they have been shown not to pose a risk to allergy suffers.

The allergens, if not already in the name of the food, have to be clearly labelled in the ingredients list or in a special 'allergen box'. 

	Consumer advice Want to complain about a trader or product? Want to report a scam phone call or letter?
	Leaflets - food Information leaflets from trading standards relating to food. Topics covered include guides for producers of eggs, advice to takeaway businesses, food labelling and more.

Useful downloads A project to ascertain the energy, fat and salt levels, in a selection of takeaway ready meals obtained from outlets in North Yorkshire. [88kb] The objective of this project is to highlight typical energy, fat, and salt levels found to be present in a selection of take away ready meals in order to make consumers aware of the levels of these particular nutrients which, they are likely to encounte   Weblinks Please note: All external websites open in a new browser window. North Yorkshire County Council is not responsible for the content of external websites. Food Commission Food advice linked to the national curriculum Food Standards Agency Link to information from the Food Standards Agency Food Standards Agency Guidance on healthy eating Trading Standards Institute Trading Standards Institute guidance for businesses. Coeliac U.K Gluten allergy group The Anaphylaxis Campaign Life-threatening allergies group Food labelling and composition - frequently asked questions I want to eat a balanced diet, what information should I find on food labels that would help me? More and more food features some sort of claim on the label. How can I understand them? I run a small shop and am confused about the labelling I should use on food. What is required? I'm starting to manufacture and pack yoghurt. I've heard about QUID labelling. What is it and how will it affect me? Contacts Trading standards and planning services trading.standards@northyorks.g... Full details for Trading standards and planning services