Tyrone tech company has new rules on food safety wrapped up

BLUDOT Technologies in Cookstown, a specialist in technology solutions for the food, retail and hospitality sectors, has developed a unique digital platform to help UK food businesses meet the stricter requirements on labelling of pre-packed foods.

Known as ‘Natasha’s Law’, the new legislation comes into effect in October and requires allergen and nutritional information to be included on all packaging.

Bludot's 'Allergen Intelligence' algorithm streamlines the creation, display and printing of mandatory allergen and nutritional information, making it simple for businesses of all sizes, to meet the requirements of the new legislation.

With the creation of compliant labels becoming increasingly complicated, the Bluedot solution is helping food businesses to help overcome these challenges.

The new law also has implications for restaurants providing digital click-n-collect and home delivery services for consumers.

John Melarkey, Bludot Technologies' chief revenue officer, said: “We’ve been working on this new technology platform for more than two years in response to the debates around consumer safety that led to Natasha’s Law, the objective of which is to protect food allergy sufferers in particular. It will also help to ensure confidence among consumers in general about the pre-packaged food they buy.

Natasha’s Law brings greater transparency about what people are buying and eating. Allergen Intelligence in its own small way is helping to make food safer to eat

“Natasha’s Law brings greater transparency about what people are buying and eating. Allergen Intelligence in its own small way is helping to make food safer to eat”

“Pre-packed food for direct sale will soon require more detailed labelling about allergens from October. We’ve used our extensive experience in the food industry to design a digital platform to help the industry comply with the much tighter safety legislation for consumers.

“While the new legislation applies to onsite pre-packaged food, all food producers need to factor in the new requirements which may be extended to the industry in due course,” adds Mr Melarkey.