Legally Compliant Menu & Online Ordering

In hospitality, mandatory information is not a mere accessory – it has to be correct. GastroZukunft presents the important labelling automatically in the right place, in the correct legal wording. This way your menu and online ordering are geared towards the German market from the very start.

Allergens & Additives (LMIV)

Stored allergens and additives (E numbers) appear on the dish, in the shopping cart and in the overview. If a guest deselects an ingredient, the allergen information is recalculated accordingly. How you maintain this is shown by the Digital Menu.

Unit Price (Grundpreis, PAngV)

For pre-packaged goods with a stated quantity, the Unit price is shown in accordance with § 4 PAngV (Price Indication Ordinance) (e.g. “(X.XX €/l)”) – in the menu, where it belongs.

Deposit (Pfand, VerpackG)

If a deposit applies, the line plus X.XX € deposit appears separately (§ 1 (4) PAngV, § 33 VerpackG, Packaging Act) and is not added into the price. Whether the deposit is additionally charged as part of the order total can be enabled depending on the setup.

This feature is set up differently depending on the restaurant.

Age Verification (JuSchG)

If a restaurant offers age-restricted items, the menu shows a badge 16+ or 18+ (§ 9 JuSchG, Protection of Young Persons Act). The age must be confirmed before the order is completed; proof is provided on handover.

Price & Tax Information

Prices are labelled with incl. VAT (MwSt.). For small businesses (§ 19 UStG), value-added tax is not shown – instead the note “no value-added tax shown” appears. You assign tax rates per category; more on this under Accounting & Invoices.

Promotions Done Right

For reduced dishes, the “lowest price of the last 30 days” is stated automatically (§ 11 PAngV). More under Discounts & Promotions.

Ordering with Legal Certainty

Order completion meets the requirements for consumers: the Order with obligation to pay button (§ 312j BGB), confirmation of the terms and conditions and the notice on the right of withdrawal for services (§ 312g BGB). Payment is made securely – see Payment Methods.

Receipt & Invoice (§ 14 UStG)

By default, the guest receives a Receipt with a note that it is not an invoice. A proper Invoice with a sequential number under § 14 UStG can be issued depending on the setup. The difference and how invoices are created is described by Accounting & Invoices.

AI Images Labelled (EU AI Act Art. 50)

If AI-generated images are used for dishes, these are clearly labelled – with an “AI” badge and the note “This image was created with artificial intelligence.” Only images are labelled, not texts.

Reusable Packaging (§ 33 VerpackG)

If a restaurant offers reusable packaging, the corresponding notice under § 33 VerpackG can be shown in the menu and shopping cart.

Data Protection & GDPR (DSGVO)

GastroZukunft supports you with your data protection obligations: a data processing agreement (DPA), access and deletion requests from your guests, and regulated data retention. Details follow in the help articles on the GDPR (DSGVO).

Legal Notice / Imprint (§ 5 DDG)

Your mandatory details for the legal notice (§ 5 DDG) are maintained; any missing details are shown to you in the administration so that your presence is complete.

More on this: Digital Menu · Payment Methods · Discounts & Promotions · Accounting & Invoices

How to Set This Up

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to enter allergens and additives myself?

Yes: you store allergens and additives (E numbers) per dish in the “Allergens & Additives” step. They then appear automatically on the dish, in the cart and in the order history, in the language of the guest. If nothing is stored, the line stays hidden; you check the accuracy of the information yourself.

Why is the unit price not shown on every dish?

The unit price (Grundpreis) under § 4 PAngV only appears for pre-packaged goods for which you have entered content and unit (l, ml, kg or g), and only in the menu, not in the cart and not for dishes with variants. For prepared dishes you leave these fields empty.

Is the deposit added to the order total automatically?

Not by default: the deposit appears as a separate line “plus X.XX € deposit” and is not included in the price. Whether the deposit is additionally charged, that is, added to the total, is enabled in the business details (Geschäftsangaben); the field for the deposit VAT rate (Pfand-MwSt.) appears there once you enable charging the deposit or automatic invoicing. As long as that field is not set, orders with a deposit remain a receipt (Beleg).

Why can I not set an “18+” age restriction on a drink?

The age restriction “16+” or “18+” under § 9 JuSchG can only be set on a dish once you have declared alcohol sales in the business details (Geschäftsangaben) and confirmed the licence. If such a dish is in the cart, the guest has to confirm their age before completing the order; the actual proof is provided on handover.

I am a small business under § 19 UStG. What is shown with my prices?

For small businesses under § 19 UStG no value-added tax is shown; instead of the VAT line, the note “no value-added tax shown” appears. Under standard taxation, prices are labelled “incl. VAT (MwSt.)”. A tax rate is never assumed automatically, you assign the rates per category yourself.

Do I have to label AI images as AI myself?

Images from the image selection count as AI images and carry the notice under EU AI Act Art. 50 automatically. If you upload your own photo, the notice only appears if you label it as an AI image yourself. Labelled images get an “AI” badge and, in the enlarged view, the sentence “This image was created with artificial intelligence.”; only images are labelled, not texts.