Published
From September 2026, Benedict's Law comes into force in England, introducing mandatory statutory allergy safety requirements for state-funded schools, academies, and pupil referral units and shifts allergy safety from optional advice to strict legal compliance.
The new iteration of CPC’s Outsourced Catering framework is currently in the process of being retendered but as part of this we would like to give members assurance that suppliers' effectiveness in terms of allergens, Natasha's Law and Benedict's Law will be assessed and prioritised alongside the new School Food Standards.
In the meantime, you can continue to use CPC Outsourced Catering Framework agreement for the supply of a wide range of catering services across education and the wider public sector which is also recommended by the Department for Education (DfE) to Schools and Academies.
What is Benedicts Law?
Benedict’s Law is a set of national protections designed to improve allergy safety in schools. These measures ensure that schools have the policies, training and emergency medication needed to recognise and respond to severe allergic reactions and were developed following the death of five-year-old Benedict Blythe, who died from anaphylaxis at school in 2021.
His family established the Benedict Blythe Foundation and worked with clinicians, allergy charities and policymakers to lead a campaign for government to address long-standing gaps in how schools manage life-threatening allergies.
Who does it apply to?
The measures currently apply to schools in England, including:
State-funded primary and secondary schools
Academies and free schools
Special schools and alternative provision settings
Independent schools