Use of frozen dough pieces – declaration requirements towards the customer

Using frozen dough pieces (Tiefkühlteiglinge) in bakeries or shops requires clear information to the customer under EU food information legislation, in particular:

• EU Food Information Regulation (LMIV – Regulation (EU) No. 1169/2011)

• the corresponding German implementing rules such as the Lebensmittelkennzeichnungsverordnung (LMKV)

Do customers have to be informed when frozen dough pieces are used?

Yes, information is mandatory if:

• the final product is sold directly to the consumer (e.g. bread or pastries sold in the shop),

• the overall impression is that the product is fresh or handmade on site.

What compulsory wording must be used?

A clear statement must be displayed, e.g.:

• “aus tiefgefrorenem Teigling hergestellt”
  or

• “Teigling tiefgefroren – vor Ort gebacken”

This statement must be:

• visible to the customer (e.g. on the shelf, on the menu, or on the product label),

• placed close to the product (not hidden!),

• written in clear, legible type.

Where must the information be placed?

Location
Explanation

On the product label next to the product name
→ the best and clearest solution

On a sign next to the shelf
→ if all frozen products are displayed there together

On a general board/list visible to customers
→ must clearly indicate which products are “from TK dough pieces (aus TK-Teiglingen)”

On the back of the receipt or only in the kitchen/back area
→ not sufficient – does not count as prior, visible consumer information

What happens if no disclosure is made?

Infringement
Consequence

Failure to declare the frozen status
→ breach of the LMIV – misleading the consumer

Fines
→ up to €5,000, depending on the federal state

In repeated cases
→ publication of the shop’s name in lists of offenders on authority websites

Loss of customer trust
→ especially in shops that advertise as “handwerklich gebacken” (“artisan baked”)

What about shops that bake only frozen products?

If the shop bakes exclusively from Teiglinge (e.g. a bake-off shop in a petrol station or supermarket), it must:

• display a general, clearly visible notice on the bakery front or inside the store, for example:

“In diesem Backshop werden vorgebackene, tiefgefrorene Teiglinge aufgebacken.”

Professional recommendation:

Always integrate this kind of disclosure into:

• individual product labels,

• the allergen list (if available),

• internal staff training, so employees can answer customer questions honestly and clearly.

The editorial team of the website endeavours to provide accurate information based on extensive research and consultation of multiple sources. However, errors may occur or some information may not be fully confirmed. Therefore, the information contained in the articles should be regarded as an initial reference, and you should always contact the competent authorities for definitive and legally binding information.