New York State has become the first US state to require written allergen notification on food prepacked for direct sale — following in the footsteps of the UK's Natasha's Law. The law takes effect November 2026, giving food businesses a shrinking window to comply. Here's everything you need to know.
Key deadline: November 2026
All food establishments in New York State must comply. Non-compliance risks fines, enforcement action and — most critically — putting customers at risk.
What does the New York Allergen Labeling Law require?
Signed into law on November 12, 2025, the legislation requires all food establishments in New York State to provide written notification of major food allergens on food that is:
- Prepared on the premises
- Prepacked for direct sale to customers
- Sold in the same establishment where it was made
This covers bakeries, delis, grab-and-go counters, cafés, restaurant grab-and-go, hotel food outlets and any food business selling prepacked food directly to consumers.
Which allergens must be declared?
The law requires declaration of the FDA's major food allergens. Each allergen must be clearly identified on the label — not buried in small print.
Who does this affect?
Bakeries & Patisseries
Any baked goods prepacked for sale on site.
Delis & Grab & Go
Sandwiches, salads, wraps — all covered.
Cafés & Coffee Shops
Food prepacked and sold on premises.
Retail & Convenience
Any food prepacked on site for direct sale.
Sound familiar? It should.
If you've heard of the UK's Natasha's Law, the New York allergen labeling law will feel very familiar. Both laws require full allergen labelling on food prepacked for direct sale on the same premises.
Dill was built in direct response to Natasha's Law in 2021. We've helped hundreds of UK food businesses — including Co‑Op, BrewDog and L'éclair Patisserie — achieve full compliance. Now we're bringing that same expertise to New York and the US market.
How L'éclair Patisserie achieved full Natasha's Law compliance with Dill
How Dill helps you comply
Build your label templates centrally — ingredients, allergens, best before. Once, from one dashboard.
Connect to your existing systems — Clover, Toast, Square, Erudus food database for accurate ingredient data.
Push labels to every site instantly — your team prints from phone or tablet using Brother printers.
Stay updated automatically — when regulations change, your templates update. You're always compliant.
What happens if you don't comply?
Non-compliance with allergen labeling laws carries serious consequences:
- Fines and enforcement action from the New York State Department of Health
- Risk of allergen incidents — with potential legal liability
- Reputational damage if an incident becomes public
- Loss of operating licence in serious cases
The cost of compliance is a fraction of the cost of non-compliance.
Prepare now — don't wait until 2026
November 2026 sounds far away. It isn't. Setting up a compliant labelling system, training staff and rolling out across multiple locations takes time. The operators who act now will be ready. The ones who wait risk a rushed, error-prone implementation.
Is your operation ready for November 2026?
Book a free 30-minute compliance review with our team. We'll assess your current labelling process and show you exactly what needs to change.
Or email us: hello@mydill.com
Frequently asked questions
When does the NY allergen labeling law take effect?
November 2026.
Who does the NY allergen law apply to?
All food establishments in New York State that sell food prepacked for direct sale on the premises.
What allergens must be declared?
The 9 FDA major allergens: milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans and sesame.
How is this different from Natasha's Law?
The NY law closely mirrors the UK's Natasha's Law, requiring full allergen labelling on PPDS food. Dill helped hundreds of UK businesses comply with Natasha's Law and brings that expertise to the US market.