Updated September 2026: The new statutory allergy safety guidance is now applying for the 2026–27 academic year. Here's what schools and catering teams need to know.
From September 2026, schools across England will be required to adopt stronger allergy safety measures under the new statutory guidance known as Benedict's Law.
The changes represent one of the most significant updates to allergy management in education settings in recent years, placing greater emphasis on staff training, emergency preparedness and clear allergen communication to help protect pupils with food allergies.
What is Benedict's Law?
Benedict's Law is a campaign-driven initiative introduced following the tragic death of five-year-old Benedict Blythe, who died from anaphylaxis after being mistakenly given food containing milk despite having a known allergy.
Benedict's family, alongside allergy charities, healthcare professionals and campaigners, worked tirelessly to improve allergy safety standards in schools and ensure that no other family experiences a similar tragedy.
In 2026, the Government committed to introducing mandatory statutory allergy guidance for schools in England, with implementation beginning in September 2026.
What Will Change for Schools?
Under the new guidance, schools will be expected to demonstrate a consistent and proactive approach to allergy management.
Key requirements include:
1. A Whole-School Allergy Policy
Schools will need to develop, implement and publish a dedicated allergy policy outlining how allergens are managed, how risks are reduced and how allergic emergencies are handled.
2. Annual Allergy Training for All Staff
All staff members - not just first aiders - will require regular allergy awareness training. This includes teachers, teaching assistants, lunchtime supervisors, office staff, transport staff and any other adults working within the school environment.
Training should cover:
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Recognising the signs of allergic reactions and anaphylaxis
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Understanding common allergens
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Emergency response procedures
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The correct use of adrenaline auto-injectors (AAIs)
3. Spare Emergency Adrenaline Auto-Injectors
Schools will be expected to hold in-date spare adrenaline auto-injectors on site to provide emergency treatment where required.
These devices can be lifesaving in situations where a pupil's own medication is unavailable or additional doses are needed.
4. Individual Healthcare and Allergy Action Plans
Children with diagnosed allergies should have personalised care plans in place, ensuring that all relevant staff understand their specific needs, triggers and emergency procedures.
Why Food Labelling Matters for School Kitchens
Allergy safety doesn't stop at having an allergy policy. For school kitchens and catering teams, clear and consistent food information is an important part of managing allergen risks.
Schools and caterers have legal requirements around providing allergen information, including requirements for prepacked for direct sale (PPDS) food. The Department for Education's September 2026 school food guidance specifically highlights the importance of ensuring allergen ingredients remain identifiable and directs schools towards PPDS labelling guidance.
A consistent labelling system can help kitchen teams:
- Clearly identify food and allergen information
- Communicate dietary requirements between kitchen and service staff
- Reduce the risk of labelling mistakes
- Keep food information organised and easy to identify
- Support wider food safety and allergy management procedures
What Does Benedict's Law Mean for Food Labelling?
Benedict's Law and Natasha's Law are separate pieces of legislation and guidance, but both are relevant when schools are managing food allergies.
Natasha's Law refers to the allergen labelling requirements for prepacked for direct sale (PPDS) food. These requirements apply to schools, colleges and nurseries that provide PPDS food.
PPDS food is food that is packaged on the same premises where it is offered or sold, before the consumer selects or orders it. Examples in schools can include:
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Packaged sandwiches
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Salad boxes
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Fruit pots
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Breakfast pots
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Packaged burgers
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Food prepared and packaged ahead of a lunchtime service
Where food is PPDS, the label must include the name of the food, a full ingredients list and allergens emphasised within the ingredients list. Allergenic ingredients can be emphasised using methods such as bold type, capital letters, contrasting colours or underlining.
This means schools should make sure their catering teams understand which foods fall under PPDS requirements and have a reliable process for producing clear, accurate labels.
How DayMark Supplies Can Help
Creating clear and consistent food labels doesn't have to be a time-consuming process.
The Matt85 Printer & Tablet from DayMark Supplies provides a digital food labelling solution for busy professional kitchens, helping teams create consistent labels for food rotation, allergen identification and nutritional information.
The system allows product and ingredient information to be stored within the software before labels are produced through the printer. This can help make the labelling process quicker and more consistent across the kitchen.
There are no ongoing software subscription costs, and labels can be printed in seconds - helping kitchen teams save time while maintaining a consistent approach to food labelling.
Explore the Matt85 Printer & Tablet
Preparing for September 2026
Although implementation begins in September 2026, schools should start preparing now.
A practical checklist includes:
✓ Review current allergy procedures
✓ Develop or update your allergy policy
✓ Arrange staff training
✓ Ensure emergency medication protocols are in place
✓ Audit your catering and allergen labelling processes
✓ Introduce clear food identification systems where required
Final Thoughts
Benedict's Law marks an important step forward in protecting children with food allergies in schools across England.
By combining robust policies, effective staff training and clear allergen communication, schools can create safer environments for pupils and provide greater reassurance to parents and carers.
For education caterers and school kitchens, now is the ideal time to review existing systems and ensure you're ready for the changes ahead.
At DayMark Supplies, we're committed to supporting schools with practical food safety solutions that help make allergen management clearer, simpler and safer.
Sources
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UK Government. Stronger protections for children with allergies in school. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/stronger-protections-for-children-with-allergies-in-school (Accessed June 2026).
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Anaphylaxis UK. Benedict's Law. Available at: https://www.anaphylaxis.org.uk/education/benedicts-law/ (Accessed June 2026).