The possibility of using meal vouchers to purchase all food products was to end on December 31, 2023. But Olivia Grégoire, Minister Delegate in charge of Small and Medium Enterprises, affirmed that the operation of this measure would continue throughout the year 2024.
Do your shopping and pay at the checkout with your restaurant voucher card has become very practical for the French. But this measure, established by the law of August 16, 2022 and implemented during the Covid-19 health crisis in an exceptional and limited manner, was to end on December 31, 2023. Thus, from January 1, 2024, the restaurant voucher card would no longer have allowed the purchase of foods that cannot be consumed immediately, mainly those that require cooking or preparation such as: rice, pasta, eggs, meat, fish, butter, sugar or more flour… This Tuesday, November 14 on M6, the Minister Delegate in charge of Small and Medium Enterprises Olivia Grégoire finally announced the postponement of this project. “Good ideas must be extended. Nothing will change for the French”, she announced, affirming that the operation of the restaurant voucher card “will continue throughout the year” 2024. Bruno Le Maire, in favor of an extension beyond 2023, also believes that a “legislative provision” is necessary. But what can you actually buy with your restaurant voucher card, the ceiling of which is limited to 25 euros per day?
Fresh products that you can buy at the supermarket:
Here is the list of products that can be purchased with meal vouchers in a supermarket, from Monday to Saturday according to Edenred:
- In the meat section: cold cuts, prepared meats ready to cook, fresh processed meat.
- In the dairy products section: dairy desserts, cheeses/yogurts, milk
- All fruits and vegetables
- Ready products: prepared meals, fresh processed fish, mixed salads, snacks, savory tarts/quiches/pizzas, as well as products from the catering section
- Savory groceries: all products in jars or cans can be purchased as restaurant vouchers, as well as fruits and vegetables and prepared meals.
- Sweet groceries: bakery products (excluding pastries which can be purchased in bakeries)
- In the frozen food section: prepared meals, frozen processed fish, snacks, frozen foods excluding desserts and ice creams/sorbets, savory tarts, quiches/pizzas, prepared ready-to-cook meats, frozen processed meats
- In the drinks section: still and sparkling waters, fruit juices, non-alcoholic drinks
What you cannot buy with your meal voucher card in supermarkets:
- Unprocessed fish and meats in all departments
- Ice creams or sorbets
- Pastries and other non-dairy desserts
- Alcoholic beverages
- Pasta, rice, starches and other basic products sold in the grocery section
- Any non-food product.