MOSCOW, July 16 (RAPSI) – A law has been adopted in France to dissuade the use of factory-made, prepackaged food in restaurants. Restaurateurs will be required to add a small symbol on their menus to identify meals made in-house by the chef: a pan with a roof-shaped lid, Reuters writes.

The law is binding for all eateries and fast foods, as well as caterers and outdoor food stalls.

The French government hopes that this law will encourage restaurants to prepare their dishes from scratch and thus maintain the country’s culinary reputation.

To earn the “homemade” stamp, dishes must be made in-house with fresh food products that have not been heated or substantially processed before delivery to the restaurant. Any restaurant misusing the logo will be fined starting next year.

Products that are chilled, frozen, deep-frozen, vacuum packed, peeled, sliced, cut, minced, chopped, boned, smoked or salted can still be purchased from outside and used in a dish without disqualifying it from using the “homemade” label.

Ham, cheese, pasta, bread, puff pastry and stock for sauces can still be purchased in bulk and earn a dish the label. But French fries cannot be labeled “homemade” if they are delivered frozen.

A survey by restaurant federation Synhorcat conducted a year ago, when the law was drafted, found that 31% of French eateries admitted to using at least some premade dishes.

The law was approved in parliament on March 17 and came into effect this week. Restaurants and catering companies have until January 1 to adapt their menus.