Guide
Selling food online: labelling and safety requirements
Comply with distance selling rules when selling food online, including providing mandatory food information before purchase, allergen labelling at two points, and maintaining safe delivery temperatures.
If you sell food online, by telephone, or through a delivery platform, you are a distance seller under the Food Information Regulations 2014. The same food safety and labelling rules that apply to shops apply to you, with additional requirements because the customer cannot examine the product before buying.
These rules apply whether you sell through your own website, social media, a marketplace like Etsy or Amazon, or a delivery platform like Deliveroo, Just Eat, or Uber Eats.
What your product listing must include
Under the Food Information Regulations 2014, the following mandatory information must be available to customers before they complete their purchase.
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1. Register your food business
Register with your local authority at least 28 days before trading. This applies even if you only sell online and operate from home.
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2. Add mandatory food information to your listings
Each product listing must show the name of the food, ingredients list with allergens emphasised, net quantity, storage conditions, your business name and address, country of origin (where required), and nutrition declaration (unless exempt).
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3. Provide allergen information before purchase
Allergen details must be available on the listing page itself, not buried in terms and conditions. All 14 major allergens must be emphasised in the ingredients list.
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4. Label food correctly at delivery
Food delivered to customers must carry the same labelling as prepacked food sold in a shop. All mandatory information must appear on the packaging or an accompanying document.
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5. Maintain temperature control during delivery
Chilled food must stay at 8 degrees C or below (5 degrees C recommended), frozen food at minus 18 degrees C or below, and hot food at 63 degrees C or above. Use insulated packaging, cool bags, or gel packs as appropriate.
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6. Keep delivery and temperature records
Record temperature checks for deliveries, especially for chilled and frozen food. These records demonstrate due diligence if questioned by enforcement officers.
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7. Ensure photographs and descriptions are accurate
Product images and descriptions must not be misleading. Under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (which replaced the CPRs 2008 from 6 April 2025), images must accurately represent portion sizes, ingredients, and presentation.
PPDS food sold online
If you prepare and package food at your premises and then sell it online for delivery, Natasha's Law applies. Prepacked for direct sale (PPDS) food sold via distance selling must carry the food name, full ingredients list, and allergens emphasised on the label.
Third-party delivery platforms
When you sell through delivery platforms such as Deliveroo, Just Eat, or Uber Eats:
- You remain responsible for food safety, labelling, and allergen information. The platform does not take on your legal obligations.
- Allergen information must appear on the platform listing before purchase.
- Correct labelling must accompany the food at delivery.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Hiding allergen information: Allergen details must be on the product listing page, not only in a general FAQ.
- Missing date marking at delivery: Use by and best before dates must appear on the label when food is delivered.
- Assuming the platform handles compliance: You remain the responsible food business operator.
- Forgetting to register: Selling food online from home still requires food business registration.