Does the restaurant use pre made dishes as "chef's hand made"? Consumer Protection Commission calls for proactive disclosure
"Offline restaurants also use pre made dishes."
"Prefabricated dishes entering the campus"
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Recently, there have been constant news about the pre made vegetable market
According to data, the size of China's pre made vegetable market reached 419.6 billion yuan in 2022, a year-on-year increase of 21.3%. It is understood that the largest downstream demand in the prefabricated food industry currently comes from catering enterprises, accounting for 80%. Snacks and fast food restaurants, chain stores, food delivery restaurants, rural kitchens, and group cafeterias are the main scenarios for the application of prefabricated dishes. With the development of fresh food locking technology and cold chain technology, some high-end catering and hotel banquets have also begun to frequently use pre made dishes.
In response, the Jiangsu Provincial Consumer Protection Commission released a micro survey to understand consumers' attitudes and opinions towards the use of pre made dishes in offline restaurants and restaurants.
The survey results show that
62.8% of consumers have encountered restaurants or restaurants using pre made dishes while dining out;
53.2% of consumers oppose the use of pre made dishes in restaurants, stating that going to a restaurant is just about wanting fresh food;
65.6% of consumers believe that hotels and restaurants should be informed in advance when using pre made dishes;
78.1% of consumers reported that offline restaurants and restaurants did not provide advance notice regarding the use of pre made dishes;
Consumers generally believe that there are differences between pre made and freshly cooked dishes, mainly reflected in quality, quantity, taste, and other aspects.
The Jiangsu Provincial Consumer Protection Commission believes that pre made dishes have played a very strong role in improving restaurant efficiency and stabilizing product output. But for consumers, going to a restaurant specifically for a delicious meal only results in pre made dishes, which creates a difference in the experience. Especially in some restaurants and restaurants, the use of pre made dishes is not clearly disclosed, and some even sell dog meat under the guise of a chef, which further enrages consumers.
According to the Consumer Rights and Interests Protection Law, consumers have the right to know the true situation of the goods or services they purchase or use, as well as the right to independently choose goods or services. If a restaurant uses pre made dishes, it should fulfill its obligation to express and remind, and diners can choose to consume or not to consume. Otherwise, it is suspected of infringing on the consumer's right to know and choose. Fake pre made dishes and freshly made dishes are more likely to be involved in false advertising and consumer fraud.
At the same time, the Jiangsu Provincial Consumer Protection Commission calls on catering enterprises and businesses to enhance their self-discipline and awareness, and actively and clearly disclose the sources of the dishes used, whether they are pre made dishes, and the production process.
1. Prefabricated vegetable production enterprises should improve their technological level, focus on overcoming technical difficulties, such as the degree of reduction and freshness of prefabricated vegetables, and continuously improve the taste and food safety of prefabricated vegetables.
2. Regulatory authorities should fulfill their responsibilities, increase daily supervision and inspection efforts, and carry out targeted special supervision and inspection on issues that are more concentrated and prominent in consumer feedback, in order to crack down on illegal, irregular, and harmful behaviors to consumer rights in accordance with the law.
3. Industry associations should explore the establishment of relevant rules and standards, advocate for prefabricated food enterprises to actively fulfill social responsibilities, and establish a good social image.
