Other prepared dishes and meals

1. Scope and Applicability

This PCR applies to factory-manufactured prepared dishes and meals within CPC 3.0 subclass 23997. A covered product contains at least two distinct main ingredients, is prepared, seasoned and cooked, and is presented in vacuum-packed, canned or frozen form. Examples include frozen pizza and quiche, dishes based on eggs, cheese, tofu or meat substitutes, and other prepared dishes and meals not elsewhere classified.

The PCR does not cover meals whose primary basis is meat; fish, molluscs or crustaceans; vegetables, pulses or potatoes; stuffed pasta or couscous; homogenized composite food preparations such as infant food; or fresh or otherwise preserved but non-frozen pizza or quiche. The exact CPC inclusion and exclusion boundary is authoritative (un-cpc-v3-2025).

The foreground boundary starts with ingredients, processing aids, packaging components and utilities as received at the manufacturing site and ends with net saleable finished product at the factory gate. Distribution, retail, consumer reheating and end-of-life are outside this foreground production dataset, although downstream lifecycle models may add them.

2. Product Category Identity

Field	Value
canonical_pcr_id	pcr.food-products-beverages-and-tobacco-textiles-apparel-and-leather-products.grain-mill-products-starches-and-starch-products-other-food-products.other-prepared-dishes-and-meals
classification_refs	CPC 3.0: 23997, exact
covered_products	Prepared dishes and meals with at least two distinct main ingredients that are prepared, seasoned and cooked and presented vacuum-packed, canned or frozen; frozen pizza and quiche; egg-, cheese-, tofu- or meat-substitute-based prepared dishes; other prepared dishes and meals n.e.c.
excluded_products	Meat-based meals (21186); fish-, mollusc- or crustacean-based meals (21241); vegetable-, pulse- or potato-based meals (21391); stuffed-pasta and couscous dishes (23722); homogenized composite food preparations including infant food (23991); fresh or preserved but non-frozen pizza and quiche (23430)
representative_product	Production mix of finished manufactured products within CPC 23997, declared by recipe family and preservation route
production_route	Ingredient receipt and preparation; formulation and seasoning; cooking or other validated heat treatment; assembly or filling; package forming and sealing; route-specific vacuum packing, canning/retorting, chilling or quick freezing; finished-product holding
market_state	Net saleable vacuum-packed, canned or frozen finished product at the factory gate; chilled products are included only when their product identity otherwise conforms to the CPC 23997 boundary and is not an excluded non-frozen pizza or quiche

3. Reference Flow

Field	Value
What	A prepared, seasoned and cooked multi-ingredient dish or meal conforming to CPC 23997
How much	1,000 kg net saleable finished product
How well	Conforms to the declared recipe, ingredient-basis classification, preservation route, package configuration and validated food-safety specifications
How long or cycle	One manufacturing reporting period, with batch or campaign traceability and no consumer storage or use duration included
reference_flow_link	The normalized factory-gate output recorded as finished_product

Field	Value
Reference amount	1,000 kg net saleable finished product
Reference product flow	Other prepared dishes and meals 92b0b2f5-905b-45e9-8182-b0ad6ed26cfc
Reference flow property	Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66
Reference unit group	Units of mass 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66
Reference unit	kg
Required qualifiers	recipe family; identities and mass shares of at least two distinct main ingredients; ingredient-basis classification rationale; preparation and cooking route; preservation route (vacuum_packed, canned, frozen, or qualifying chilled); package component identities and masses; net content; site and geography; production period; allocation method; treatment destination for each waste and wastewater flow; consumer reheating excluded or included downstream

When constructing a foreground data package, every required qualifier must be declared in dataset metadata, process notes, the reference-flow comment, the product description or an equivalent data-package field. Missing required qualifiers make the reference-flow definition incomplete.

4. Measurement and Unit Rules

rule_id	Applies to	Required property	Required unit	Rule
reference_mass	reference product	Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66	kg	Normalize all foreground exchanges to 1,000 kg net saleable finished product, excluding secondary transport packaging not sold with the product.
net_saleable_output	finished product	Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66	kg	Determine output from verified net-content mass and accepted saleable units; rejects, retained samples and giveaway are not saleable output.
ingredient_mass	each recipe ingredient	Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66	kg	Record every ingredient separately on an as-received mass basis and retain moisture or solids information when it materially affects recipe comparison.
package_component_mass	each primary or secondary package component	Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66	kg	Weigh or calculate each package component separately from unit mass and packed unit count; no combined packaging-material total is conforming.
energy_preservation	electricity, natural gas and purchased steam	Energy	kWh, MJ or kg steam as metered	Preserve the original meter or invoice unit and document every conversion factor used for reference-flow normalization.

5. System Boundary

rule_id	Applies to	Rule	source_ids
boundary_foreground_operations	factory-gate foreground	Include ingredient receipt, storage and preparation; formulation and seasoning; cooking or validated heat treatment; assembly or filling; package forming and sealing; route-specific cooling, quick freezing, retorting or vacuum packing; finished-product holding; cleaning; directly controlled utility use; rejects; packaging scrap; refrigerant losses; direct combustion emissions; and on-site wastewater treatment when operated by the producer.	un-cpc-v3-2025; codex-cxc-8-1976; jrc-fdm-bref-2019; schmidt-rivera-2019
boundary_upstream_inputs	purchased inputs	Link every ingredient, processing chemical, packaging component, electricity supply, fuel, steam and off-site treatment service to an upstream dataset appropriate to the declared geography, technology and period.	eu-pef-2021
boundary_downstream_exclusion	distribution, retail, use and end-of-life	Exclude distribution, retail storage, consumer reheating and product/package end-of-life from the foreground production dataset and disclose that exclusion; include them only in an explicitly expanded downstream lifecycle model.	eu-pef-2021; schmidt-rivera-2019
boundary_no_hidden_cutoff	material and energy completeness	Do not omit an actual recipe ingredient, package component, fuel, refrigerant, waste stream or directly released pollutant because it is small; document any unavailable secondary dataset as a data gap or disclosed proxy.	eu-pef-2021
boundary_wastewater_route	wastewater	Model process wastewater as a waste flow to off-site treatment, or include on-site treatment and separately record discharged water and each monitored pollutant; never count both routes for the same wastewater quantity.	jrc-fdm-bref-2019

Boundary Abstraction

Field	Value
declared_starting_condition	Ingredients, processing aids, packaging components and utilities received at the manufacturing site in their actual purchased state
starting_condition_role	Foreground gate-in condition; upstream production remains represented by linked datasets
product_classification_scope	Only finished products satisfying CPC 3.0 subclass 23997 and its explicit exclusions
recursive_input_rule	A purchased prepared component that itself falls in this PCR category remains a separately quantified upstream product input. Link its supplier dataset and do not recursively re-expand it inside the receiving process; disclose its mass, recipe state and supplier boundary.
upstream_dataset_requirement	Use geographically, temporally and technologically representative upstream datasets for every purchased input and disclose proxies or missing datasets
disclosure	Declare recipe family, main-ingredient basis, preservation route, packaging configuration, product state, foreground start and end, on-site versus off-site treatment, excluded downstream stages and allocation method

6. Process Inventory Structure

Process Map

process_id	process_name	inclusion	inclusion_condition	role	quantitative_reference
prepared_meal_manufacturing	Prepared-meal manufacture, preservation and packing	required	Always included	Foreground production from received ingredients through saleable packaged output	1,000 kg net saleable finished product
on_site_wastewater_treatment	On-site wastewater treatment and discharge	conditional	Include only when the producer operates treatment within the foreground boundary; otherwise send process_wastewater to an off-site treatment dataset	Foreground treatment of manufacturing wastewater	kg or m3 wastewater treated, normalized to 1,000 kg finished product

The cards below are atomic exchanges, not an exhaustive recipe. The concrete dataset must add every other actual ingredient, processing chemical, packaging component, waste and emission as its own atomic exchange. A row named only “ingredients”, “packaging materials”, “energy carriers” or “wastewater and residues” is prohibited. No quantitative inventory range is retained because the reviewed studies are case-specific or cover materially different recipe boundaries; foreground measurement is mandatory.

Process: Prepared-meal manufacture, preservation and packing (prepared_meal_manufacturing)

Inputs

Product flows

Wheat-flour recipe input (wheat_flour)

Record wheat flour only when it is an actual ingredient, such as in a frozen pizza or quiche base.

• Selected flow: Wheat flour
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: As-received flour mass issued to conforming production, net of separately recorded returns
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg net saleable finished product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_recipe_inputs
• Sources: un-cpc-v3-2025; schmidt-rivera-2019

Liquid-whole-egg recipe input (liquid_whole_egg)

Record liquid whole egg only when it is an actual recipe ingredient.

• Selected flow: Liquid whole egg
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Metered or weighed as-received liquid whole egg issued to conforming production
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg net saleable finished product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_recipe_inputs
• Sources: un-cpc-v3-2025

Cheddar-cheese recipe input (cheddar_cheese)

Record cheddar cheese only when it is the actual cheese used; another cheese must be a separate precisely named row.

• Selected flow: Cheddar cheese
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Weighed as-received cheese issued to conforming production
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg net saleable finished product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_recipe_inputs
• Sources: un-cpc-v3-2025

Tofu recipe input (tofu)

Record tofu only for a recipe that actually uses tofu.

• Selected flow: Tofu
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Weighed as-received tofu issued to conforming production
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg net saleable finished product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_recipe_inputs
• Sources: un-cpc-v3-2025; schmidt-rivera-2019

Seitan recipe input (seitan)

Record seitan only for a recipe that actually uses this meat substitute.

• Selected flow: Seitan
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Weighed as-received seitan issued to conforming production
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg net saleable finished product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_recipe_inputs
• Sources: un-cpc-v3-2025; schmidt-rivera-2019

Refined-vegetable-oil recipe input (refined_vegetable_oil)

Record refined vegetable oil when it is added to the recipe or used for cooking.

• Selected flow: Refined vegetable oil
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Tank issue, batch dispense or verified purchase-to-stock balance for conforming production
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg net saleable finished product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_recipe_inputs
• Sources: schmidt-rivera-2019

Sodium-chloride recipe input (sodium_chloride)

Record sodium chloride when it is added as seasoning.

• Selected flow: Sodium chloride
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Weighed batch addition to conforming production
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg net saleable finished product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_recipe_inputs
• Sources: schmidt-rivera-2019

Potable-water input (potable_water)

Record all potable water entering the foreground process once, with recipe-contact, washing, cleaning and make-up uses retained as disaggregated raw fields.

• Selected flow: Potable water
• Flow property / unit: Volume / m3
• Amount rule: Submetered water use; if one meter serves several uses, reconcile end-use readings or documented engineering estimates without duplicating the site total
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg net saleable finished product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_water_and_utilities
• Sources: jrc-fdm-bref-2019; codex-cxc-1-1969

Grid-electricity input (grid_electricity)

Record purchased grid electricity used by preparation, cooking, filling, sealing, cooling, freezing, cold holding and cleaning equipment.

• Selected flow: Electricity, medium voltage
• Flow property / unit: Energy / kWh
• Amount rule: Process submeter total; otherwise allocate the verified site meter total under calc_shared_utility
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg net saleable finished product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_water_and_utilities
• Sources: jrc-fdm-bref-2019; schmidt-rivera-2019

Natural-gas input (natural_gas)

Record natural gas only when it is combusted within the foreground boundary for cooking, retorting, hot-water or steam generation.

• Selected flow: Natural gas
• Flow property / unit: Net calorific value / MJ
• Amount rule: Metered fuel volume converted using the supplier-declared net calorific value
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg net saleable finished product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_water_and_utilities
• Sources: jrc-fdm-bref-2019

Purchased-steam input (purchased_steam)

Record purchased steam separately from on-site fuel and electricity when steam crosses the foreground boundary.

• Selected flow: Steam
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Supplier meter or invoice quantity corrected for verified condensate returns where applicable
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg net saleable finished product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_water_and_utilities
• Sources: jrc-fdm-bref-2019

Tinplate-can component (tinplate_can)

Record the tinplate can body and ends as one weighed can component only when this package is used.

• Selected flow: Tinplate steel can
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Verified empty-can mass multiplied by accepted packed unit count, plus separately recorded process scrap
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg net saleable finished product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_packaging_components
• Sources: jrc-fdm-bref-2019

Polypropylene-tray component (polypropylene_tray)

Record the polypropylene tray only when this package component is used.

• Selected flow: Polypropylene tray
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Verified tray unit mass multiplied by accepted packed unit count, plus separately recorded process scrap
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg net saleable finished product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_packaging_components
• Sources: jrc-fdm-bref-2019; schmidt-rivera-2019

Polyethylene-lidding-film component (polyethylene_lidding_film)

Record polyethylene lidding or vacuum film separately from rigid trays and cartons.

• Selected flow: Polyethylene lidding film
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Issued roll mass minus returned roll and separately recorded film scrap
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg net saleable finished product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_packaging_components
• Sources: jrc-fdm-bref-2019; codex-cxc-8-1976

Paperboard-carton component (paperboard_carton)

Record the paperboard retail carton separately from the primary food-contact package.

• Selected flow: Paperboard carton
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Verified carton unit mass multiplied by accepted packed unit count, plus separately recorded process scrap
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg net saleable finished product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_packaging_components
• Sources: jrc-fdm-bref-2019

R-404A-refrigerant make-up (r404a_refrigerant)

Record R-404A only when this refrigerant is present in directly controlled cooling or freezing equipment; each other refrigerant requires its own card.

• Selected flow: Refrigerant R-404A
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Refrigerant purchased or added during the reporting period, reconciled with opening, closing and recovered inventory under calc_refrigerant_loss
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg net saleable finished product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_refrigerant_inventory
• Sources: jrc-fdm-bref-2019; schmidt-rivera-2019

Waste flows

None entering this process.

Elementary flows

None entering this process.

Outputs

Product flows

Net saleable finished product (finished_product)

This is the quantitative reference output after final quality acceptance and package sealing.

• Selected flow: Other prepared dishes and meals 92b0b2f5-905b-45e9-8182-b0ad6ed26cfc
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: Normalize accepted net-content mass to exactly 1,000 kg under calc_reference_normalization
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Not applicable (not_applicable)
• Normalization basis: 1,000 kg net saleable finished product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_finished_product
• Sources: un-cpc-v3-2025

Waste flows

Prepared-food waste (food_waste)

Record edible or inedible prepared-food material rejected or lost from this process, with its treatment destination disclosed.

• Selected flow: Waste prepared food
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Weighed reject, spill and retained-product waste leaving the foreground process
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg net saleable finished product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_waste_outputs
• Sources: schmidt-rivera-2019

Food-processing wastewater (process_wastewater)

Record wastewater leaving manufacturing for on-site or off-site treatment. Do not combine it with solid food waste.

• Selected flow: Wastewater from food processing
• Flow property / unit: Volume / m3
• Amount rule: Effluent flow meter or verified water balance for the manufacturing wastewater collection point
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg net saleable finished product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_wastewater_monitoring
• Sources: jrc-fdm-bref-2019

Waste-polyethylene output (waste_polyethylene)

Record polyethylene trim and rejected lidding or vacuum film separately.

• Selected flow: Waste polyethylene
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Weighed polyethylene scrap leaving the process, by treatment destination
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg net saleable finished product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_waste_outputs
• Sources: jrc-fdm-bref-2019

Waste-polypropylene output (waste_polypropylene)

Record rejected polypropylene trays separately.

• Selected flow: Waste polypropylene
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Weighed polypropylene scrap leaving the process, by treatment destination
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg net saleable finished product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_waste_outputs
• Sources: jrc-fdm-bref-2019

Waste-paperboard output (waste_paperboard)

Record rejected paperboard cartons and clean paperboard trim separately.

• Selected flow: Waste paperboard
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Weighed paperboard scrap leaving the process, by treatment destination
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg net saleable finished product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_waste_outputs
• Sources: jrc-fdm-bref-2019

Waste-tinplate output (waste_tinplate)

Record rejected tinplate cans and metal trim separately.

• Selected flow: Waste tinplate steel
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Weighed tinplate scrap leaving the process, by treatment destination
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg net saleable finished product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_waste_outputs
• Sources: jrc-fdm-bref-2019

Elementary flows

Fossil-carbon-dioxide emission (fossil_carbon_dioxide)

Record direct fossil carbon dioxide from on-site fuel combustion; exclude upstream fuel-cycle emissions.

• Selected flow: Carbon dioxide, fossil, to air
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Stack measurement or natural-gas consumption multiplied by a disclosed jurisdiction-appropriate factor under calc_direct_combustion_emission
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg net saleable finished product
• Basis kind: Fuel inventory (fuel_inventory)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_direct_air_emissions
• Sources: jrc-fdm-bref-2019

Methane emission (methane_air)

Record direct methane from on-site fuel combustion separately from carbon dioxide.

• Selected flow: Methane, to air
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Stack measurement or natural-gas consumption multiplied by a disclosed jurisdiction-appropriate factor under calc_direct_combustion_emission
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg net saleable finished product
• Basis kind: Fuel inventory (fuel_inventory)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_direct_air_emissions
• Sources: jrc-fdm-bref-2019

Nitrous-oxide emission (nitrous_oxide_air)

Record direct nitrous oxide from on-site fuel combustion separately.

• Selected flow: Nitrous oxide, to air
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Stack measurement or natural-gas consumption multiplied by a disclosed jurisdiction-appropriate factor under calc_direct_combustion_emission
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg net saleable finished product
• Basis kind: Fuel inventory (fuel_inventory)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_direct_air_emissions
• Sources: jrc-fdm-bref-2019

Nitrogen-monoxide emission (nitrogen_monoxide_air)

Record nitrogen monoxide as its own direct air emission when measured or factorized.

• Selected flow: Nitrogen monoxide, to air
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Stack measurement or natural-gas consumption multiplied by a disclosed species-specific factor under calc_direct_combustion_emission
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg net saleable finished product
• Basis kind: Fuel inventory (fuel_inventory)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_direct_air_emissions
• Sources: jrc-fdm-bref-2019

Nitrogen-dioxide emission (nitrogen_dioxide_air)

Record nitrogen dioxide separately from nitrogen monoxide when measured or factorized.

• Selected flow: Nitrogen dioxide, to air
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Stack measurement or natural-gas consumption multiplied by a disclosed species-specific factor under calc_direct_combustion_emission
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg net saleable finished product
• Basis kind: Fuel inventory (fuel_inventory)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_direct_air_emissions
• Sources: jrc-fdm-bref-2019

R-404A-refrigerant emission (r404a_air)

Record direct R-404A loss from foreground cooling or freezing equipment as a separate air emission.

• Selected flow: Refrigerant R-404A, to air
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Opening charge plus additions minus closing charge and recovered refrigerant under calc_refrigerant_loss
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg net saleable finished product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_refrigerant_inventory
• Sources: jrc-fdm-bref-2019; schmidt-rivera-2019

Process: On-site wastewater treatment and discharge (on_site_wastewater_treatment)

Inputs

Product flows

Wastewater-treatment electricity (wastewater_treatment_electricity)

Record electricity used by on-site wastewater treatment separately from manufacturing electricity when the treatment process is included.

• Selected flow: Electricity, medium voltage
• Flow property / unit: Energy / kWh
• Amount rule: Treatment-plant submeter total normalized to treated wastewater attributable to conforming production
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg net saleable finished product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_wastewater_treatment_inputs
• Sources: jrc-fdm-bref-2019

Sodium-hydroxide treatment input (sodium_hydroxide)

Record sodium hydroxide only when dosed in the on-site treatment process.

• Selected flow: Sodium hydroxide
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Delivery, tank or dosing-pump record reconciled over the reporting period
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg net saleable finished product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_wastewater_treatment_inputs
• Sources: jrc-fdm-bref-2019

Ferric-chloride treatment input (ferric_chloride)

Record ferric chloride only when dosed for phosphorus or solids removal.

• Selected flow: Ferric chloride
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Delivery, tank or dosing-pump record reconciled over the reporting period
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg net saleable finished product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_wastewater_treatment_inputs
• Sources: jrc-fdm-bref-2019

Waste flows

Manufacturing-wastewater input (wastewater_input)

This card receives the same physical wastewater recorded as process_wastewater; the linked amount must reconcile exactly.

• Selected flow: Wastewater from food processing
• Flow property / unit: Volume / m3
• Amount rule: Flow-metered wastewater entering on-site treatment
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg net saleable finished product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_wastewater_monitoring
• Sources: jrc-fdm-bref-2019

Elementary flows

None entering this process.

Outputs

Product flows

None leaving this process.

Waste flows

Wastewater-treatment sludge (wastewater_sludge)

Record dewatered sludge leaving on-site treatment separately from food waste and packaging scrap.

• Selected flow: Wastewater treatment sludge
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Weighbridge, container or dewatering record on a declared wet-mass basis with dry-solids content retained
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg net saleable finished product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_wastewater_monitoring
• Sources: jrc-fdm-bref-2019

Elementary flows

Treated-water discharge (treated_water_discharge)

Record the water mass discharged directly to the receiving water body when on-site treatment and direct discharge are in scope.

• Selected flow: Water, river
• Flow property / unit: Volume / m3
• Amount rule: Final-effluent flow meter total
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg net saleable finished product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_wastewater_monitoring
• Sources: jrc-fdm-bref-2019

Chemical-oxygen-demand discharge (cod_to_water)

Record COD load as a distinct monitored wastewater indicator.

• Selected flow: Chemical oxygen demand, to water
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Final-effluent volume multiplied by representative COD concentration under calc_wastewater_pollutant_load
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg net saleable finished product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_wastewater_monitoring
• Sources: jrc-fdm-bref-2019

Five-day-biochemical-oxygen-demand discharge (bod5_to_water)

Record BOD5 load separately from COD.

• Selected flow: Biochemical oxygen demand, 5 days, to water
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Final-effluent volume multiplied by representative BOD5 concentration under calc_wastewater_pollutant_load
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg net saleable finished product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_wastewater_monitoring
• Sources: jrc-fdm-bref-2019

Total-suspended-solids discharge (tss_to_water)

Record TSS load as its own wastewater indicator.

• Selected flow: Total suspended solids, to water
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Final-effluent volume multiplied by representative TSS concentration under calc_wastewater_pollutant_load
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg net saleable finished product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_wastewater_monitoring
• Sources: jrc-fdm-bref-2019

Total-nitrogen discharge (total_nitrogen_to_water)

Record total nitrogen load separately from other wastewater indicators.

• Selected flow: Total nitrogen, to water
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Final-effluent volume multiplied by representative total-nitrogen concentration under calc_wastewater_pollutant_load
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg net saleable finished product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_wastewater_monitoring
• Sources: jrc-fdm-bref-2019

Total-phosphorus discharge (total_phosphorus_to_water)

Record total phosphorus load separately from total nitrogen.

• Selected flow: Total phosphorus, to water
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: Final-effluent volume multiplied by representative total-phosphorus concentration under calc_wastewater_pollutant_load
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg net saleable finished product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_wastewater_monitoring
• Sources: jrc-fdm-bref-2019

7. Allocation and Co-product Handling

rule_id	Applies to	Rule	source_ids
avoid_allocation	separable products, batches and treatment lines	First subdivide processes, meters and records so each recipe family, preservation route and output receives its directly attributable ingredients, packaging, utilities, wastes and emissions.	eu-pef-2021
shared_utility_allocation	shared cooking, cooling, freezing, cleaning and site services	When direct measurement is unavailable, allocate a shared utility using the closest causal operating parameter, such as metered equipment load multiplied by operating time, thermal load, cleaned area or equipment occupancy; document the parameter and reconcile to the site total.	eu-pef-2021; schmidt-rivera-2019
physical_output_allocation	unavoidable multi-output operation with a documented physical relation	Use a documented physical relation that reflects causality. Mass allocation is permitted only when product masses drive the shared burden and all output masses are measured on a consistent basis.	eu-pef-2021
economic_allocation_last_resort	multi-output operation without a defensible physical relation	Use economic allocation only as a last resort; disclose price source, price period, currency, averaging method and allocation factors and test sensitivity to material price variation.	eu-pef-2021
waste_and_byproduct_status	food residues, recyclable packaging scrap and treatment sludge	Declare whether each output is waste, by-product or recovered product under the applicable jurisdiction; do not assign avoided burdens inside the foreground dataset unless the downstream modelling convention is explicitly declared.	eu-pef-2021; jrc-fdm-bref-2019

8. Foreground Data Collection, Calculation, and Quality Rules

Data Collection Protocols

protocol_id	process_id	flow_role	record_type	raw_fields	collection_method	unit	frequency	temporal_coverage	site_scope	aggregation_rule	quality_evidence
cp_recipe_inputs	prepared_meal_manufacturing	each actual recipe ingredient	batch recipe, weigh ticket, issue and return record	ingredient identity; supplier lot; as-received mass; returned mass; recipe family; batch id; moisture or solids when material	Reconcile batch additions and returns to approved recipe and production orders	kg	each batch	representative continuous 12-month period or complete shorter campaign with justification	all lines producing the declared recipe family	Sum net issued mass by exact ingredient and normalize with calc_reference_normalization; never aggregate unlike ingredients	calibrated scales; approved formulation; lot traceability; inventory reconciliation
cp_water_and_utilities	prepared_meal_manufacturing	potable water, electricity, natural gas and purchased steam	meter, invoice, equipment log and production log	opening and closing meter; invoice quantity; meter unit; equipment id; operating time; fuel calorific value; condensate return; production output	Prefer process submetering; otherwise reconcile site meter or invoice totals and apply calc_shared_utility	native meter unit	continuous or per invoice with monthly reconciliation	same reporting period as finished output	manufacturing site and included support systems	Reconcile allocated totals to verified site totals before normalization	meter calibration; invoices; time logs; reconciliation statement
cp_packaging_components	prepared_meal_manufacturing	each package component	component specification, unit-mass test, issue and scrap record	exact material; supplier; unit mass; packed unit count; issued mass; returned mass; scrap mass	Weigh representative empty components and reconcile component issues, packed counts and scrap	kg	each package specification and monthly reconciliation	same reporting period as finished output	all packing lines in scope	Calculate each component separately; no combined packaging total	calibrated scale; component specification; stock reconciliation
cp_finished_product	prepared_meal_manufacturing	net saleable finished product	checkweigher, net-content test, accepted unit and batch release record	batch id; recipe family; route; accepted units; net content; rejects; retained samples; release status	Sum accepted net-content mass only after final quality release	kg	each batch	complete reporting period	all included lines	Normalize all exchanges using calc_reference_normalization	calibrated checkweigher; release record; production reconciliation
cp_waste_outputs	prepared_meal_manufacturing	each food or packaging waste	container weight, weighbridge ticket and transfer note	exact waste identity; gross and tare mass; destination; date; batch or line; recovery status	Weigh each waste stream separately at transfer	kg	each transfer or container	same reporting period as finished output	all included lines	Sum by atomic waste identity and destination; subtract measured contamination only with evidence	scale calibration; transfer note; treatment acceptance record
cp_refrigerant_inventory	prepared_meal_manufacturing	R-404A make-up and direct loss	equipment charge, service and recovery records	equipment id; refrigerant identity; opening charge; additions; closing charge; recovered mass; production allocation key	Technician-verified refrigerant mass balance by equipment	kg	each service event and annual closure	reporting year including opening and closing inventory	directly controlled refrigeration systems	Apply calc_refrigerant_loss; allocate only equipment-specific loss to covered production	certified service record; cylinder weights; equipment log
cp_direct_air_emissions	prepared_meal_manufacturing	each direct combustion emission	stack test, continuous monitor, fuel meter and factor record	pollutant species; measured concentration and flow or fuel use; factor value; factor source; oxidation basis; operating hours	Prefer representative stack measurements; otherwise calculate each species from collected fuel use and a disclosed factor	kg pollutant and native fuel unit	monitoring interval or each fuel reconciliation period	same reporting period as fuel use	each directly controlled combustion unit	Apply calc_direct_combustion_emission; never combine pollutant species	accredited test or monitor QA; calibrated fuel meter; retained factor source
cp_wastewater_monitoring	prepared_meal_manufacturing; on_site_wastewater_treatment	wastewater volume, sludge and each final-effluent indicator	flow meter, composite sample and laboratory result	inflow and outflow volume; sample period; COD; BOD5; TSS; TN; TP; sludge wet mass; sludge dry solids; discharge destination	Flow-proportional composite sampling where practicable and accredited laboratory analysis using declared methods	m3, mg/L and kg	continuous flow plus sampling frequency justified by permit and process variability	same reporting period as finished output	manufacturing collection point and final discharge point	Apply calc_wastewater_pollutant_load; keep every indicator separate	flow-meter calibration; chain of custody; laboratory accreditation; permit record
cp_wastewater_treatment_inputs	on_site_wastewater_treatment	treatment electricity and each treatment chemical	submeter, dosing pump, tank and delivery record	exact input identity; meter or dosing total; concentration; opening and closing stock; treated volume	Reconcile submeter and chemical stock changes to treatment operation	kWh or kg	continuous or each delivery with monthly reconciliation	same reporting period as wastewater monitoring	on-site treatment system	Normalize inputs to covered production without merging chemical identities	meter calibration; delivery note; dosing calibration; stock reconciliation

Calculation Rules

rule_id	Applies to	Formula or rule	Inputs	Output	source_ids
calc_reference_normalization	every foreground exchange	normalized quantity = reporting-period exchange quantity × 1,000 kg / reporting-period net saleable finished-product mass	atomic exchange quantity; accepted net saleable output mass	exchange quantity per 1,000 kg reference product	eu-pef-2021
calc_shared_utility	verified site utility total without direct process submeter	Allocate by a documented causal driver; sum all allocated quantities and reconcile exactly to the verified meter or invoice total before reference-flow normalization	site total; equipment load; operating time or other causal driver; covered output	allocated atomic utility quantity	eu-pef-2021; schmidt-rivera-2019
calc_refrigerant_loss	each refrigerant in directly controlled equipment	loss = opening charge + additions − closing charge − recovered refrigerant; investigate and document any negative or unexplained balance	equipment-specific refrigerant inventory and service records	kg refrigerant emitted to air	jrc-fdm-bref-2019
calc_direct_combustion_emission	each directly emitted combustion species	emission = measured stack mass, or collected fuel activity × disclosed species-specific emission factor; do not use one combined air-emission row	stack result or fuel activity; species-specific factor and source	kg of one named pollutant species	jrc-fdm-bref-2019
calc_wastewater_pollutant_load	COD, BOD5, TSS, TN or TP at direct discharge	pollutant load (kg) = final-effluent volume (m3) × representative concentration (mg/L) × 0.001; use the same sampling and flow period	final-effluent volume; one pollutant concentration	kg of the named pollutant indicator	jrc-fdm-bref-2019
calc_mass_reconciliation	recipe and packaging mass balance	Compare total as-received ingredient and packaging mass with saleable product, separately named wastes, wastewater transfers, retained samples and documented inventory change; investigate unexplained imbalance without treating water evaporation as solid waste	all measured mass inputs and outputs; stock changes	reconciliation statement and unexplained-mass result	eu-pef-2021; jrc-fdm-bref-2019

Data Quality Requirements

requirement_id	Applies to	Requirement	Evidence
dq_category_identity	finished product	Demonstrate two distinct main ingredients and document why the ingredient basis is not one of the excluded CPC subclasses.	approved recipe, ingredient mass shares, product specification and CPC classification rationale
dq_route_identity	finished product	Retain preparation, cooking, cooling/freezing or retorting, package-sealing and storage specifications and identify the route actually used.	batch route, HACCP plan, process log and package specification
dq_temporal_alignment	all foreground data	Use the same representative reporting period for inputs, outputs, wastes and emissions; a shorter campaign must cover all campaign batches and disclose seasonality or start-up effects.	dated records and production reconciliation
dq_meter_and_scale_control	measured quantities	Use calibrated meters and scales and retain calibration status and data-capture completeness.	calibration certificates, meter checks and missing-data log
dq_supplier_representativeness	upstream datasets	Match ingredient, packaging, energy and treatment datasets to supplier geography, technology and period; disclose every proxy.	supplier declarations, dataset metadata and proxy register
dq_wastewater_sampling	wastewater indicators	Align final-effluent volume and concentration periods, retain laboratory method and chain of custody and identify whether discharge is direct or to off-site treatment.	composite-sample record, accredited laboratory report, flow-meter record and permit
dq_allocation_reconciliation	shared operations	Reconcile allocated utility, waste and emission totals to verified site totals and disclose causal drivers and residuals.	allocation workbook, meter total and reconciliation check
dq_completeness	inventory	Include each actual ingredient, package component, utility, refrigerant, waste and direct emission as an atomic row; document a missing secondary dataset as a data gap rather than deleting the exchange.	recipe-to-inventory, bill-of-materials-to-inventory, utility and waste reconciliation checklists

9. Validation Rules

rule_id	Applies to	Rule	source_ids
validate_reference_identity	reference flow	The output UUID must be 92b0b2f5-905b-45e9-8182-b0ad6ed26cfc, the reference property must be Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66, the unit group must be 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66, and the normalized amount must be 1,000 kg.	un-cpc-v3-2025
validate_cpc_scope	product category	At least two distinct main ingredients must be separately identified and mass-quantified, and no excluded primary ingredient basis or product form may be classified under this PCR.	un-cpc-v3-2025
validate_atomic_inventory	all inventory rows	Every selected flow must represent one physical or chemical exchange; reject plural collection labels, combined utilities, combined packaging, combined wastes and combined emissions.	jrc-fdm-bref-2019
validate_recipe_completeness	ingredient inventory	Every ingredient on the approved production recipe must map to one separately named input row, and recipe mass must reconcile to batch issue records.	schmidt-rivera-2019
validate_package_completeness	package inventory	Every primary and secondary package component must map to one separately named input and its process scrap, if any, must map to one separately named waste output.	jrc-fdm-bref-2019; codex-cxc-8-1976
validate_preservation_records	cooking, chilling, freezing, retorting or vacuum route	The data package must retain the actual process route and relevant time-temperature or sealing records; a frozen route must identify quick-freezing and cold-holding conditions.	codex-cxc-1-1969; codex-cxc-8-1976
validate_wastewater_exclusivity	wastewater	The same wastewater quantity must be represented either as a waste flow to off-site treatment or through included on-site treatment and direct-discharge flows, not both.	jrc-fdm-bref-2019
validate_wastewater_indicators	direct wastewater discharge	When direct discharge is included, COD, BOD5, TSS, TN and TP must each be reported or each missing test must be an explicit data gap; no combined wastewater-pollutant row is allowed.	jrc-fdm-bref-2019
validate_direct_air_emissions	on-site combustion and refrigeration	Each measured or calculated pollutant and each refrigerant must be a separate elementary-flow row with its method or factor source retained in the produced dataset.	jrc-fdm-bref-2019
validate_normalization	all foreground exchanges	Every exchange must use the same accepted net-saleable-output denominator and the reporting-period allocation totals must reconcile to site records before normalization.	eu-pef-2021
validate_ranges	quantitative range metadata	No source-backed range is authorized by this PCR. Any later range must pass the repository range-evidence contract, including at least two independent boundary-compatible original sources for an inferred empirical range.	—
validate_unresolved_identities	publication readiness	UUID-free atomic flow names may support candidate authoring but every unresolved Tiangong identity in the manifest must be resolved or explicitly reviewed before publication.	—

10. Published Dataset Profile

Field	Value
dataset_role	Foreground production data package that may be published as a secondary or background dataset after review
downstream_use	Construction of process and lifecyclemodel datasets for prepared-meal production and broader food-system studies
allowed_use	Factory-gate modelling of a declared CPC 23997 recipe family, preservation route, package configuration, geography and production period
excluded_use	Direct proxy for excluded CPC meal subclasses; consumer meal service; restaurant preparation; distribution, retail, reheating or end-of-life unless an expanded lifecycle model adds those stages
required_metadata	canonical PCR id; CPC coordinate; recipe family; two or more main ingredient identities and mass shares; ingredient-basis rationale; route; package components; reference UUID/property/unit; site/geography/period; allocation; wastewater route; upstream dataset and proxy register
required_quality_disclosure	record coverage; meter and scale calibration; temporal, geographic and technological representativeness; allocation drivers and reconciliation; missing secondary datasets; unresolved UUIDs; treatment destinations; direct-emission and wastewater test methods
update_trigger	Recipe or main-ingredient basis change; preservation-route or package redesign; material supplier or energy-system change; treatment-route change; new source-backed range evidence; material meter or allocation change; Tiangong identity resolution; regulatory or CPC scope change

11. Data Sources

Source id	Type	Reference	Used for
un-cpc-v3-2025	official_guidance	United Nations Statistics Division, Central Product Classification (CPC) Version 3.0 Explanatory Notes, subclass 23997, 2025. https://unstats.un.org/unsd/classifications/Econ/Download/In%20Text/CPC_Ver_3.0_Exp_Notes_30Jun2025.pdf (retrieved 2026-08-20)	Exact inclusion and exclusion boundary; representative product identity; qualifying forms and ingredient bases
eu-pef-2021	official_guidance	European Commission, Commission Recommendation (EU) 2021/2279 on the use of the Environmental Footprint methods, consolidated text and Annex I. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reco/2021/2279/2021-12-30/eng (retrieved 2026-08-20)	Lifecycle boundary, company-specific data, completeness, data quality, allocation hierarchy, proxy and disclosure rules
jrc-fdm-bref-2019	official_guidance	Giner Santonja et al., Best Available Techniques (BAT) Reference Document for the Food, Drink and Milk Industries, JRC118627, EUR 29978 EN, 2019. https://doi.org/10.2760/243911 (retrieved 2026-08-20)	Food-manufacturing process water, electricity and heat, packaging, cleaning, refrigeration, solid outputs, direct air emissions, wastewater treatment and separate COD/BOD5/TSS/TN/TP monitoring
codex-cxc-1-1969	standard	FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius, General Principles of Food Hygiene, CXC 1-1969, revised 2020 and 2022. https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/codex-texts/codes-of-practice/en/ (retrieved 2026-08-20)	Food-process route records, water quality, time-temperature controls, packaging hygiene, traceability and HACCP-aligned quality evidence
codex-cxc-8-1976	standard	FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius, Code of Practice for the Processing and Handling of Quick Frozen Foods, CXC 8-1976, revised 2008. https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/codex-texts/codes-of-practice/en/ (retrieved 2026-08-20)	Frozen-route preparation, heat treatment, cooling, quick freezing, packaging, cold storage, temperature monitoring and retained records
schmidt-rivera-2019	literature	Schmidt Rivera, X. C. and Azapagic, A. (2019), “Life cycle environmental impacts of ready-made meals considering different cuisines and recipes,” Science of the Total Environment 660:1168–1181. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.01.069; open full text: https://bura.brunel.ac.uk/bitstream/2438/17849/1/FullText.pdf (retrieved 2026-08-20)	Multi-recipe ready-meal process decomposition, ingredient and package inventory, cooking and packing route, utilities based on manufacturer bills and output, shared-energy allocation context; not used as range evidence