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2025-09-13 15:45:07
[Restaurants Need to Clearly Disclose Pre-Prepared Meals: Draft National Standard Passes Review and Will Soon Be Open for Public Comment] The draft "National Food Safety Standard for Pre-Prepared Meals," spearheaded by the National Health Commission, has passed review and will soon be open for public comment. This will unify the "identity" of pre-prepared meals, and for the first time, mandatory disclosure will be required regarding whether and how restaurants use them. "The standard primarily provides definitions and food safety indicators," according to an expert involved in the drafting. The draft standardizes the classification, ingredients, processing techniques, storage, transportation, and inspection methods of pre-prepared meals, and for the first time, introduces mandatory indicators such as "no added preservatives." Compared to the 141 existing group and local standards, the national standard's provisions focus more on the "safety bottom line," providing a direct basis for regulatory enforcement. Industry insiders estimate that pre-prepared meals are expected to strengthen requirements for a "preservative ban and cold chain upgrade," both of which are expected to increase costs by 15% to 30%. Experts suggest that small and medium-sized factories unable to afford the renovation costs may be acquired or exit the market within two years of the national standard taking effect, while leading brands are expected to further expand their market share through economies of scale.
