Dark kitchens will soon be required to display the origin of their meat

The mandatory mention of the origin of meat served by restaurants and eateries, which came into force in March 2022, will be extended from October 1 to “dark kitchens,” those “fully online restaurants” that prepare dishes intended for delivery, the DGCCRF announced on Friday. .

The extension was introduced “to meet consumers’ growing expectations for information about the origin of their food.”

Since 2002, restaurateurs have been required to inform their customers about the origin of beef, and from 2022 this obligation has extended to pork, lamb and poultry, recalls the General Directorate for Competition, Consumption and the Prevention of Fraud in their activities. Press release.

“From 1 October, to strengthen consumer awareness of the origins of their food, this information obligation will apply to establishments that only offer takeaway or delivery food, often referred to as dark kitchens “, indicated.

“These establishments, like restaurants, must now inform their customers of the country in which the animal was raised and slaughtered and, in the case of beef, the country of birth of the animal. This information applies to meat purchased by restaurateurs in raw form, and not already cooked or cooked,” the DGCCRF clarifies.

Consumers are encouraged to report violations

This information about the origin of the meat “must be provided to the consumer before he or she places an order, even in the case of a remote purchase, such as through a mobile app or online ordering site,” he points out.

The DGCCRF will “monitor the correct application” of this system by interested businesses and “invite” consumers to report on the Signal Conso website or app “any consumption concerns, in particular related to information on the origin of meat sold by catering establishments for delivery or takeaway.”

Livestock professionals, who have long called for this display commitment in the hope that it will promote French origins, are also calling for it to be extended to already processed meats such as ham or nuggets.