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Food is love. But the food business is law.

Running a cafe or a catering company is one of the most regulated activities in the UK. You are dealing with public health, commercial property, and high-value events. A single labelling mistake can lead to criminal prosecution. A badly negotiated lease can leave you paying for a landlord’s roof repairs.

Whether you are slinging flat whites or catering banquets, here are the legal recipes you need to follow.

1. Natasha's Law (The Label That Changed Everything)

The Scenario: You run a deli. You make sandwiches in the morning, wrap them in clingfilm, and put them in the fridge for the lunch rush. A customer grabs an "Egg Mayo." They have a sesame allergy. The bread has sesame seeds, but there is no label. They have a severe reaction.

The Legal Reality: Since 2021, under "Natasha's Law" (UK Food Information Amendment), food that is Pre-Packed for Direct Sale (PPDS) must carry a full label listing the name of the food and a full ingredients list with allergenic ingredients emphasised (bold/italics).

"I didn't know" is not a defence. Breaching this is a criminal offence. Your insurance may not cover the legal defence if you failed to comply with statutory law.

The Fix:

Audit your food flow. If it’s packed before* the customer orders it, it needs a label.

• Implement a robust labelling system connected to your recipes.

2. The Commercial Lease Trap ("Full Repairing")

The Scenario: You find the perfect spot for your coffee shop. The lease is 10 years. It’s a "Full Repairing and Insuring" (FRI) lease. You sign. Three years later, the Victorian roof starts leaking. The landlord sends a bill for £15,000. You say: "But the roof was old when I moved in!"

The Legal Reality: Under an FRI lease, you are effectively the owner of the building's problems. You are liable to keep it in "substantial repair." If it was in bad repair when you moved in, you might legally be required to put it into better condition than you found it.

The Fix:

• Schedule of Condition: Before signing, get a surveyor to take photos of every crack and leak. Attach this to the lease.

The Clause: Ensure the lease says: "Tenant is not required to return the property in any better state of repair than evidenced by the Schedule of Condition."* This single clause can save you tens of thousands.

3. Event Cancellation (The Wasted Food)

The Scenario: You are catering a wedding for 100 people on Saturday. You buy £1,000 of fresh produce on Wednesday. On Thursday, the couple cancels due to illness. They demand their money back.

The Legal Reality: Unjust enrichment laws suggest you shouldn't profit from their misfortune, but you should not be out of pocket.

The Fix: Your contract needs a clear "sunk costs" policy.

"cancellations within [X] days: Client is liable for all costs incurred (produce/staff) up to that date, plus a percentage of profit."*

Headcount Guarantees: "Final numbers must be confirmed 7 days prior. No refunds for guest dropouts after this date."* (This stops you paying for 100 steaks when only 80 people show up).

4. The "May Contain" Defence

The Scenario: A customer asks: "Is this Gluten Free?" Your server says "Yes." The customer gets sick because you used the same toaster for regular bread.

The Legal Reality: Verbal assurances are binding. If you say "Yes," it is a warranty. Cross-contamination negates a "Free From" claim.

The Fix:

The Disclaimer: Your menu and Terms should state: "While we take care, our kitchen handles allergens and we cannot guarantee 100% absence of cross-contamination."*

Train staff never to say "Yes." Train them to say: "It is made without gluten ingredients, but prepared in a shared kitchen."*

Why Contract Review Matters

You want to feed people, not fight them in court.

AI contract review checks your lease for the "FRI" trap. It scans your catering terms for the "Cancellation" clause. It ensures that your passion for food doesn't get soured by a bad legal aftertaste.

Disclaimer: The information in this article is for general guidance only and is not intended as professional legal, financial, tax, or medical advice.