Italy regulates the legal definition of fresh bread

In Italy, the legal definition of ‘fresh bread’ is determined by the production process rather than a specific time limit since baking. According to current regulations and recent Senate developments, fresh bread must be produced through a continuous process where kneading, leavening, shaping, and baking occur without significant interruptions.

Under Decree 131/2018, products that undergo intermediate freezing or technological stagnation cannot legally be labeled as ‘fresh’. This legislation aims to increase transparency for consumers, distinguishing between products made in a continuous cycle and those that have undergone preservation treatments or partial cooking followed by freezing.