Benedict's Law: What it is and why allergen safety matters
In 2021, five-year-old Benedict Blythe tragically lost his life to anaphylaxis at school. His family's campaign for change has since led to Benedict's Law - a new national framework for allergy safety in England, with statutory guidance due by July 2026 and protections coming into force from September.
While Benedict's Law is focused on schools, it's part of a broader and growing conversation about how seriously we take allergen safety, across every setting where food is prepared, served, or labelled.
What does Benedict's Law require?
For schools in England, the law introduces a consistent set of protections, including whole-school allergy policies, staff training on recognising and responding to anaphylaxis, access to emergency adrenaline auto-injectors, and individual allergy action plans for pupils with diagnosed allergies. Stronger record-keeping and communication around allergens are also central to the framework.
The message behind these requirements isn't just relevant to schools. Accurate information, clear communication, and reliable processes are the foundation of allergen safety everywhere.
Why it matters beyond the classroom
Around two children in every classroom have an allergy, and schools are one of the most common locations for severe allergic reactions. But allergic reactions don't stop at the school gate. For any business handling food, the same principles apply: know what's in your products, record it accurately, and make sure that information reaches the people who need it.
Mismanaged allergen information carries real consequences: for customers, for your team, and for your business.
Some practical steps worth considering
Whether you're reviewing your processes in light of Benedict's Law or simply looking to tighten up your allergen management, here are a few things to think about:
Audit your current records. Do you know exactly what allergens are present in every product you make or serve? Are those records up to date?
Check your labelling. Is allergen information clearly and consistently communicated on packaging, menus, or product labels?
Train your team. Does everyone handling food understand the allergens involved and what to do if a customer raises a concern?
Review your processes. Are there gaps where allergen information could get lost between suppliers, recipes, and the final product?
How Labl.it can help
Labl.it is designed to take the complexity out of allergen labelling, helping food businesses create accurate, consistent labels without adding to your team's workload. Whether you're producing pre-packed foods, managing a kitchen, or somewhere in between, Labl.it helps make sure your allergen information is right, every time.
Benedict's Law is a reminder of what's at stake. Getting allergen safety right isn't just about compliance - it's about the people on the other side of the label.
Want to find out more about how Labl.it can support your allergen processes? Get in touch
