Restaurants in�France�will soon be able to add a�government-sanctioned logo�next to menu items that are made�in-house. According to the decree below from the French government (translated), the label, called "fait maison," will go into effect�tomorrow.�RFI notes�that the French Parliament approved the measure to "reign in on the amount of processed foods used and top reserve France's high gastronomical standing."
Restaurants can label dishes as "homemade" even if the raw products ��except for potatoes�� have been "frozen, refrigerated, cut up, ground, smoked, or peeled" by the time it is delivered to the restaurant.�Consumer Affairs Minister Carole Delga tells the AFP�that spuds are the exception because many fast food restaurants use frozen potatoes to make French fries. Already made items like pasta, bread, cheese, and wine can also be used in "homemade" dishes.
Many in the French foodservice industry have been quick to point out flaws in the new law.�According to the�Guardian, a spokesperson for the hoteliers' industry union says that with the logo, "the professionals' work won't be recognised. A tomato salad which comes ready sliced in a pack will get the home-cooked label." Others have complained that to meet the requirements, they will have to hire more staff to peel potatoes that they previously bought peeled and frozen. French food critic JP G�n�points out in�Le Monde�(translated) that the many exceptions to the rule undermines "one of the central goals of the reform."
This is not the first time France has toyed with the idea of labels to save its culinary reputation. A law was�proposed last year�that would prevent any establishment that sold "frozen or vacuum-packed" from being called a restaurant. Last April, Chef�Alain Ducasse�and the 15-person�College Culinaire de France�also launched�a "quality restaurant" seal of approval to fight "sliding standards." The restaurants that feature the seal "provide information on the origins of their products, prepare their own food and offer a warm welcome." And back in 2012, chef�Xavier Denamur�called for the introduction�of two labels: "industrial food," and "cuisine maison" for food made in-house. See a photo of the logo and the decree below:
MINIST�RE DE L��CONOMIE, DU REDRESSEMENT PRODUCTIF ET DU NUM�RIQUE
Arr�t� du 11 juillet 2014 relatif � la mention � fait maison � dans les �tablissements de restauration commerciale ou de vente � emporter de plats pr�par�s
NOR : ERNI1415554A
- Publics concern�s : �tablissements de restauration commerciale et entreprises de vente � emporter de plats pr�par�s.
- Objet : d�finition du logo relatif � la mention � fait maison �.
- Entr�e en vigueur : l�arr�t� entre en vigueur le 15 juillet 2014.
- Notice : le pr�sent arr�t� vise � d�finir le logo relatif � la mention � fait maison � applicable dans les activit�s de restauration ou de vente � emporter de plats pr�par�s. Le � fait maison � permettra de mieux informer le consommateur sur les plats qui lui sont servis et de valoriser le m�tier de cuisinier.
Les plats � fait maison � seront mis en valeur sur les cartes, les menus et les autres supports d�information � l�aide d�une mention ou du logo d�fini dans le pr�sent arr�t�.
R�f�rences : l�arr�t� peut �tre consult� sur le site L�gifrance (www.legifrance.gouv.fr). La secr�taire d�Etat charg�e du commerce, de l�artisanat, de la consummation et de l��conomie sociale et solidaire,�Vu le code de la�consummation, notamment son article L.121-82-1 ;�Vu le d�cret no 2014-797 du 11 juillet 2014�relative�� la mention � fait maison � dans les �tablissements de�restoration�commerciale ou de vente � emporter de plats pr�par�s,Arr�te :
- Art. 1er. � Est approuv� le logo relative � la mention � fait maison � dans les �tablissements de restauration commerciale ou de vente � emporter de plats pr�par�s, disponible sur le site internet www.economie.gouv.fr. Ce logo est imprimable ou reproductible � la main.
- Art. 2. � Le pr�sent arr�t� entre en vigueur le 15 juillet 2014.
- Art. 3. � Le pr�sent arr�t� sera publi� au Journal officiel de la R�publique fran�aise. Fait le 11 juillet 2014.�
��France to Label 'Homemade' Dishes in Restaurants�[RFI] ��France Moves Against Substandard Restaurant Food�[AFP] ��New 'Homemade' Logo Cooks Up Confusion�[Guardian] ��Fait Maison, D�cret Bidon�[Le Monde] ��All France Coverage on Eater�[-E-]
