Search Engine Roundtable reports that restaurants can now tag menu items in Google Business Profile as gluten-free, dairy-free, halal or kosher. Previously only vegetarian and vegan were offered.
What was announced
On October 13, the search industry publication Search Engine Roundtable reported that four dietary labels for restaurants (gluten-free, dairy-free, halal and kosher) are rolling out in Google Business Profile. The report was based on a LinkedIn post by a Google representative.
According to the publication, owners set the labels by opening 'Edit menu' in their Business Profile, selecting a dish and checking the labels that apply. The labels are attached to individual menu items, not to the business as a whole.
Google's developer changelog also lists an October 9 update adding gluten-free and dairy-free to the dietary restriction options available for menu items.
Context and analysis
People who avoid certain foods because of allergies, religious practice or other reasons often research a menu carefully before eating out. Per-dish labels make it easier for them to decide while still looking at the profile in search results.
The labels are self-reported by the business, and Google does not verify them. Search Engine Roundtable notes that there appears to be no mechanism for confirming third-party certification for labels such as kosher, so diners have to rely on what the business declares.
The report does not say which countries or regions will get the feature, so it is unclear when it will appear in any given market.
TAKEAWAY
What this means for your project
If you run or manage websites and listings for restaurants, check whether 'Edit menu' in Google Business Profile now offers these labels. Apply them only to dishes whose ingredients and preparation have been confirmed, since a wrong label can affect diners' health and trust. Also make sure dish names, prices and dietary details on your own site match the profile.