France: food temperature rules

“Law” is a binding rule. “Official guidance” is not law, but inspectors expect it. “Chef Hygiene default” is a value the app checks against where no rule gives a number.

• LawDishes prepared in advance (préparations culinaires élaborées à l’avance): +3°C or colder.
• LawRaw poultry and meat preparations: +4°C or colder.
• LawMinced meat and fresh fish products: +2°C or colder.
• LawIce cream and frozen minced meat and fish: −18°C or colder. Other frozen food: −12°C or colder. Chef Hygiene aims for −18°C and flags a freezer above −15°C.
• LawDishes served or delivered hot: +63°C or hotter.
• Official guidanceCooling: from +63°C to below +10°C in less than 2 hours. Annexe IV of the arrêté makes this law in collective catering. Commercial restaurants use the same numbers as good practice from the hygiene guides.
• Official guidanceReheating: no more than 1 hour between +10°C and the serving temperature of +63°C. This is law in collective catering and good practice from the hygiene guides in restaurants.
• Chef Hygiene defaultFrench law sets no core cooking temperature. Chef Hygiene checks against 75°C in the centre, or 70°C for 2 minutes.