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Allergen compliance

PPDS labelling checklist: what must be on the pack

3 min read

Prepacked for direct sale (PPDS) labelling trips up busy kitchens because the rules sound simple until lunch rush hits. This checklist is designed for operators who need a clear "what must be on the pack" list — and the habits that stop labels going stale.

Confirm it is PPDS

Before you label, confirm the food is actually PPDS:

  • Packed before the customer orders or selects it
  • Packed on the same premises where it is offered for sale
  • Offered for sale to the final consumer

If a sandwich is wrapped and placed in a fridge for guests to pick up, treat it as PPDS. If it is assembled after the order is taken, different allergen information rules apply — but you still need accurate allergen information available.

Must-haves on every pack

Use this as a pass/fail check before anything goes on display:

  1. Name of the food — clear enough that a guest understands what they are buying
  2. Full ingredients list — every ingredient in descending order of weight, as required for PPDS
  3. Allergen emphasis — the 14 regulated allergens highlighted within the ingredients list (usually bold)
  4. Legible print — readable at a glance under counter lighting, not tiny grey text

If any of those fail, the pack should not go out.

Strongly recommended extras

Not every venue needs the same extras, but these reduce confusion:

  • Use-by or production date where shelf life matters
  • Storage instructions for chilled items
  • A simple product code linking the pack to your recipe record
  • Venue or brand name so multi-site teams can audit packs later

Operational checklist (daily / weekly)

Daily

  • Spot-check a sample of packed items against the current recipe
  • Remove any packs made before a recipe or supplier change
  • Confirm printers, label templates and ink are working before service

Weekly

  • Review supplier specs for sauces, breads and fillings
  • Reconcile PPDS items with your live menu or recipe system
  • Retrain anyone new on which products are packed ahead vs made to order

Where teams usually fail the checklist

  • Ingredients copied from an old Word doc after a recipe change
  • Allergens listed in a footnote instead of emphasised in the ingredients list
  • "House special" names that hide major allergens until someone asks
  • Labels printed for one site and reused at another with different prep

One data source beats three lists

Many venues maintain allergen info in a kitchen folder, a label template and a PDF menu. Those three versions diverge within weeks.

A better pattern: one recipe record drives the guest menu, internal allergen view and PPDS label content. Quiteful is built around that idea — update the dish once, and every surface that depends on it can stay consistent.

Quick self-audit

Walk the fridge or display and ask for each packed item:

  • Can I read the full ingredients without opening the pack?
  • Are allergens obvious inside that list?
  • Does this match what we actually put in today?
  • If a guest had a sesame or milk allergy, would this pack tell them enough?

If the answer is no to any of those, fix the process before you fix the branding.

Explore PPDS labels in Quiteful, or read our guide to UK allergen labelling basics.

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