Frequently Asked questions

Healthy Meal Standard is an international nutrition quality management system — an internationally protected certification mark and standard covering 27 nutrition categories organised into three groups: Clinical Group, Allergy Group and Lifestyle Group. The HMS certificate is issued by Bureau Veritas after successful implementation and audit of the system.

The certification process usually takes 3–6 Months, depending on:

• The Size of the Institution and the Number of Meals per Day
• The Current State of the Quality System
• The Number of Categories You Want to Certify
• Resources Available for Implementation

The process includes 4 phases: Gap analysis, Implementation, Certification (Bureau Veritas Audit) and Audit (Continuous Monitoring).

Phase 1 — Gap Analysis: Assessment of the Current Nutrition Status and Identification of Deviations from the HMS Standard.

Phase 2 — Implementation: Introduction of the HMS System According to the Specific Needs of the Institution — Process Adaptation, Team Training and Establishment of Documentation.

Phase 3 — Certification: Internal Compliance Review, Followed by the Official Bureau Veritas Audit and Awarding of the HMS Certificate.

Phase 4 — Audit: Regular Compliance Audits, Monitoring of Improvements and Generation of Reports for Continuous Improvement.

The HMS certificate can be obtained by all institutions that prepare and serve meals:

• Hotels — Tourist Facilities with Food Service Operations
• Hospitals — Healthcare Institutions with Food Service Departments
• Schools and Kindergartens — Educational Institutions
• Care Homes for the Elderly — Long-Term Care Institutions
• Polyclinics — Outpatient Healthcare Centres
• Restaurants — Commercial Food Service Facilities
• Catering Companies — Food Service Providers

The HMS certificate is issued by Bureau Veritas — one of the world’s leading organisations for certification, testing and inspection. Bureau Veritas operates in more than 140 countries and certifies a wide range of quality systems, including ISO standards and industry standards. HMS is recognised in 32 Countries through the Mediterranean Tourism Foundation (MTF) network.

HMS Covers 27 categories Organised into Three Groups:

Clinical Group: Diabetes, Kidney Disease, Cardiology, Hypertension, Hepatology, Oncology, Gastrointestinal Diseases, Paediatrics…

Allergy Group: Gluten, Lactose, Nuts, Eggs, Fish, Soy, Celery, Mustard…

Lifestyle Group: Vegetarian, Vegan, Sports Nutrition, Low-Calorie, Mediterranean, Children’s Nutrition…

No. An institution can choose which categories it wants to certify according to its needs and user base. Some institutions certify only 3–5 key categories (for example, a school may certify only children’s nutrition and allergen categories), while hospitals may certify 15+ categories, including clinical nutrition. The process is Modular and Adaptable.

Clinical Group categories refer to Medical Nutrition adapted to specific health conditions. These categories are essential for hospitals, care homes and healthcare institutions. They include nutritional protocols for diabetes, chronic kidney disease, cardiovascular diseases, hepatology, oncology, gastrointestinal disorders and more. Each category has defined Macro- and Micronutrient Limits according to scientific guidelines.

Allergy Group Categories Cover 14 Main Allergens according to EU regulation. The system ensures full allergen traceability from procurement to serving — menu labelling, clear declaration, cross-contamination protocols and staff training. Key categories: gluten, lactose, eggs, fish, nuts, soy, milk, crustaceans, molluscs, celery, mustard, sesame, lupin and sulphur dioxide. Critical for User Safety.

Lifestyle Group Categories Cover Nutrition According to Lifestyle and Preferences: vegetarian, vegan, sports nutrition, low-calorie, Mediterranean diet, children’s nutrition, nutrition for pregnant and breastfeeding women, and others. These categories are popular in hotels, sports facilities and wellness centres. Each category has nutritional standards and guidelines for menu planning.

Yes, training is a key part of implementation. We Offer Three Levels of Training:

• HMS Academy — Certified Training for Nutritionists and Kitchen Managers
• On-Site Training — Practical Training for Kitchen Staff in Your Institution
• E-Learning Platform — Online Courses Available to All Employees

The training programme is tailored to the needs of the institution and covers menu planning, meal preparation, allergen control, documentation and quality monitoring systems.

In Most Cases, No. The HMS system works with existing equipment and processes. During the Gap Analysis, we identify what you already have and where improvements are needed. In some cases, we recommend additional tools:

• Nutrition Software for Menu Planning (HMapp or Alternative)
• Digital Allergen Monitoring System (If You Serve More Than 50 Meals per Day)
• Temperature Loggers (If You Do Not Already Have Them)

The Focus Is on Optimising Existing Processes, not on expensive investments.

The HMS Standard Is Publicly Available, so technically institutions can attempt independent implementation. However, 99% of Certified Institutions Use Our Consulting Services because:

• The Standard Includes 400+ Pages of Technical Documentation
• Knowledge of Nutritional Standards and Legal Regulation Is Required
• Process Adaptation Requires Experience in QMS Systems
• Faster Implementation with an Experienced Team (3–6 Months vs 12+ Months Independently)

We Offer a Free Initial Consultation to assess your situation.

After implementation, maintaining the HMS system requires 2–5 Hours per Week for most institutions:

• Menu Planning — 1–2 Hours (Once a Week or Monthly)
• Documentation — 30 Minutes to 1 Hour per Day (Daily Records, Temperatures, Delivery Notes)
• Controls and Audits — 1 Hour per Week (Compliance Check)

For Institutions Serving More Than 200 Meals per Day, We Recommend a Dedicated Person (HMS Coordinator) with 20–50% of Working Time Dedicated to the System.

HMapp is our nutrition software for menu planning according to HMS standards — it automatically checks category compliance, calculates nutritional values and generates reports. HMapp Is NOT Mandatory — you can use any nutrition software that covers the 27 HMS categories. Most certified institutions use HMapp because:

• Directly Integrated with HMS Standards
• Automatic Alerts for Deviations
• Easy to Use
• Uključen u paket certifikacije (prva godina besplatno)

The cost of certification depends on the Size of the Institution, the Number of Categories and the Current State of the System. Approximate Ranges:

• Small Institution (50–150 Meals/Day, 3–5 Categories): EUR 8,000–15,000
• Medium-Sized Institution (150–400 Meals/Day, 8–12 Categories): EUR 15,000–30,000
• Large Institution (400+ Meals/Day, 15+ Categories): EUR 30,000–60,000

The price includes Gap Analysis, implementation, training, internal audit, Bureau Veritas certification and 12 months of support. Contact Us for a Personalised Offer.

Yes. After the First Year, Costs Include:

• Annual Bureau Veritas Audit — EUR 2,000–5,000 (Depending on Size)
• HMapp Licence (Optional) — EUR 1,200–3,600/Year
• Consulting Support (Optional) — EUR 3,000–8,000/Year

Total Annual Maintenance: 5.000 - 15.000 EUR depending on size and needs. The first annual audit is included in the initial certification.

Yes, several options:

• ESIF Funds — Digitalisation and Innovation Projects in Nutrition (Up to 85% Co-Financing)
• European Social Fund — Staff Training (Up to 100% for Public Institutions)
• LEADER Programme — Rural Development and Tourism (Up to 70% Co-Financing)
• National Programmes — vary by country (Croatia: HAMAG-BICRO, HBOR)

We Assist with Applications for Funding as part of our consulting services — we prepare project documentation and cost-benefit analyses.

Direct Financial Benefits:

• Access to Public Tenders Requiring Certification (EU Tenders, Government Contracts)
• Higher Service Price (10–25% Premium for Certified Nutrition)
• Waste Reduction Through Process Optimisation (Average 15–30%)
• Increased Occupancy Through a Marketing Advantage

Non-Financial Benefits:

• International Recognition of Quality (32 Countries of the MTF Network)
• Increased Trust Among Users and Families
• Reduced Operational Risks and Safer Nutrition
• Team Motivation and Professionalisation

ROI Usually Within 18–36 Months.