6. Salads, Fruit and Vegetables

Legal Requirements

Jersey Royal Potatoes

Yorkshire Forced Rhubarb

These have legal status as a ‘Protected Food Names, within the EU via a Protected Designation Origin (PDO). It means that the potatoes and rhubarb have been grown in the named regions, using recognised methods.

Menus using such descriptions must ensure the fruit and vegetables meet such legal definitions.

New Season Comber Potatoes, Comer Earlies, Armagh Bramley Apples, Watercress, Traditional Bramley Apple Pie Filling, Fenland Celery  

Applications for legal status as ‘Protected Food Names’ within the EU via a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) for potatoes, apples and celery, or Traditional Specialty Guaranteed (TSG) for watercress and pie filling have been made. If successful, it means that these products will have to be grown in the named areas, using traditional methods, or produced using traditional methods.

If successful, menus using such descriptions must ensure the fruit or vegetables meet these legal definitions.

Best Practice Guidelines

There is no obligation on caterers to show the origin of fruit and vegetables on their menus, but if they choose to do so, they are required by food and trading standards law to ensure that their descriptions do not mislead the customer.

When origin information such as a country, region or farm name is provided for customers, make sure this is where the produce was actually grown.

How to Apply in Your Business

Asking your supplier for more details on the actual source of fruit and vegetables, or buying direct from the grower may enable you to make more accurate or detailed origin claims.

You may also want to extend provenance information to products made from fruit and vegetables such as soups, desserts, sauces, preserves etc.