Country menu guides

What does the asterisk on an Italian menu mean?

On an Italian menu, an asterisk next to a dish usually means it contains a frozen ingredient, explained in a footnote such as " prodotto surgelato" or " congelato". Restaurants flag it because Italy's highest court has treated serving frozen food without saying so as fraud in commerce. A separate note on raw-fish dishes says the fish was frozen first, which EU hygiene rules generally require.

Updated 8 October 2026

On the menu: * Prodotto surgelato / congelato
Meaning: Frozen product — the asterisk marks dishes or ingredients that were frozen.

How it appears on the menu

Calamari fritti* with a footnote * prodotto surgelato — this dish uses a frozen ingredient.
* In mancanza di prodotto fresco, può essere utilizzato prodotto surgelato — "when fresh produce isn't available, frozen may be used". A blanket note that covers the whole menu; Italy's Court of Cassation has found a vague general warning like this inadequate on its own.
Prodotto abbattuto / abbattuto a temperatura negativa — blast-chilled or blast-frozen in the restaurant's own equipment.
Il pesce destinato a essere consumato crudo è stato sottoposto a trattamento di bonifica preventiva — "fish to be eaten raw has undergone preventive treatment" (freezing), on menus with crudo, tartare or sushi.

Surgelato, congelato, abbattuto

Surgelato: quick-frozen, usually industrially, to −18 °C or below, under the EU rules on quick-frozen food. Typical for prawns, squid, octopus and some vegetables.
Congelato: frozen by a slower method, for example in an ordinary freezer.
Abbattuto: cooled or frozen fast in a blast chiller in the restaurant's kitchen.

Why the warning? Italy's Court of Cassation has held that serving frozen food without saying so clearly on the menu can amount to (attempted) fraud in commerce under art. 515 of the Criminal Code — for example in judgment no. 38793 of 2018, which said the information must be prominent, such as an asterisk next to the dish.

Raw fish: frozen on purpose

EU hygiene rules require fish served raw or almost raw to be frozen first — at −20 °C or below for at least 24 hours, or −35 °C for at least 15 hours — to kill parasites such as anisakis. There are limited exceptions, for example for some farmed fish with a negligible parasite risk. So a "frozen" note on a crudo or sushi menu is a sign the restaurant follows the rules, not a mark of low quality.

What to do

Frozen isn't bad: much seafood is frozen soon after it's caught.
If you care, ask: È fresco o surgelato? ("Is it fresh or frozen?")
The asterisk is about freshness, not allergens — ask the staff for allergen information.

MenuGuide translates the dish names on a photographed menu; read the footnote yourself to see what the asterisk refers to.

Frequently asked questions

What does an asterisk mean on an Italian menu?

It usually means the dish contains a frozen ingredient. A footnote such as " prodotto surgelato" or " congelato" explains it. Sometimes the asterisk points to another note, such as a supplement or an allergen list, so read the footnote at the bottom of the page to be sure what it refers to on that menu.

Is it legal to serve frozen food in Italian restaurants?

Yes. Using frozen ingredients is perfectly legal. What Italian courts have treated as fraud in commerce is serving frozen food without saying so, which leads diners to believe it's fresh. That's why menus mark frozen items, usually with an asterisk. Under EU rules, fish to be eaten raw generally has to be frozen first.

What does abbattuto mean on a menu?

Abbattuto means the food was rapidly chilled or frozen in a blast chiller (abbattitore), usually in the restaurant's own kitchen. You often see it on raw-fish dishes, where freezing is required to kill parasites, and on dishes prepared in advance. It's a food-safety step, not a sign of a pre-made industrial product.

Why is raw fish frozen in Italy?

Because EU hygiene law requires fish served raw or almost raw to be frozen first, at −20 °C or below for at least 24 hours or −35 °C for at least 15 hours, with limited exceptions. This kills parasites such as anisakis. Menus offering crudo, carpaccio, tartare or sushi usually carry a note confirming the treatment.