Green & Brown Dot Symbol Rules on Restaurant Menus (FSSAI 2024)
The FSSAI mandates every packaged and restaurant menu item must display a veg non veg symbol clearly. From 2024, the rules are stricter: vegetarian items must show a green dot inside a green square, while non-vegetarian items require a brown dot inside a brown square (not red anymore). This applies to all menus—printed, digital, and QR-based.
What Restaurant Owners Must Do
Ensure every dish on your menu has the correct symbol. Items containing eggs, meat, or fish get the brown dot. Pure veg dishes get the green dot. The symbol should be prominent and visible next to each item name. Non-compliance can result in penalties ranging from ₹25,000 to ₹2 lakh depending on severity.
Quick Compliance Checklist
- •Use brown dot (not red) for non-veg items from 2024 onwards
- •Place symbols next to each dish name, not just at the top
- •Ensure symbols are clearly visible in both print and digital menus
- •Update your QR menus if you're using them
If you're using digital menus, platforms like DineCard (dinecard.in) automatically add compliant veg/non-veg symbols to your QR menu for just ₹99/month, saving you from manual updates every time FSSAI rules change.
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