Les agrafes sont-elles interdites en restauration ? Risques et alternatives

Are staples prohibited in restaurants? Risks and alternatives

In the restaurant industry, especially for delivery, food safety is a priority. The method of sealing bags and packaging is part of this. One common practice that poses a problem is using staples to close takeout and delivery food packaging.

Are staples really prohibited?

Contrary to popular belief, no regulation explicitly “bans” staples in the food service industry. However, several food safety requirements strongly discourage their use:

  • Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 requires each establishment to implement procedures based on HACCP principles, which include controlling foreign objects (metal, plastic) in food.
  • Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 establishes the general principle that dangerous food must not be placed on the market. A staple falling into a dish renders the food unsafe.
  • Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004 demands that materials intended to come into contact with food be safe; a staple is neither designed nor certified for this use.

The risk is therefore not a direct “ban on staples” as such, but the responsibility of the restaurateur in case of a foreign object, whether during a health inspection or a customer complaint.

The real risks of staples

Foreign object and ingestion: a staple can come loose and end up in a dish, posing a risk of injury or ingestion.

Contamination: a staple can rust or carry residues, which contradicts good hygiene practices.

No tamper-evidence: a stapled bag can be reopened and resealed without leaving any trace, unlike an adhesive seal.

What alternatives can be used?

Safe solutions allow you to seal your packaging while enhancing the customer experience:

Linerless label rolls to close and seal bags in the restaurant industry
Linerless label rolls [Learn more]

Linerless adhesive labels and seals: they close the bag, act as tamper-evident bands, and display the dish, order, and your brand.

Packaging with integrated closures (flaps, tabs) to seal without accessories.

A simple step for quality and trust

Replacing staples with adhesive seals means controlling the risk of foreign objects, ensuring the tamper-evidence of the order, and turning the closure into a branding opportunity. Every detail counts to inspire confidence.

👉 Discover our solutions to replace staples: Our linerless labels and seals

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