The GEM-RCN (Groupe d’Études des Marchés de Restauration Collective & de Nutrition, or Study Group of Mass Catering Markets and Nutrition) is a document which sets out the technical rules required for the public ordering of foodstuffs.
It sets nutritional targets to be achieved for each meal served. Its role is to guarantee the nutritional quality of meals served in the public sector.
The GEM-RCN recommends menu plans based on 20 meals.
To ensure that these recommendations are applied correctly, professionals are offered: A frequency table showing the nutritional quality of foodstuffs. It indicates the frequency with which each food should be served out of a total of 20 meals. For example, 8 out of 20 desserts must be fruit, and 50% of side dishes must be cooked vegetables.
A table recaps ready-to-serve weights according to age categories and nutritional requirements. (Children under 18 months, over 18 months, kindergarten, elementary school, teenagers/adults/seniors at home, seniors in nursing homes)