Paris 2024 Olympic Games: Fries, avocado, foie gras… Discover the prohibited foods for athletes in the Olympic village

Pas de frites à la cantine du village olympique… MAXPPP – Patrick Lefevre

For safety, nutritional or even ecological reasons, some foods will not be served at the Olympic Village restaurant. We explain why.

Athletes may be in for a real treat. They will not be allowed fries at the Olympic Village restaurant. The New York Times revealed this essential information in an article titled: “Down with fries! The Paris Olympics set a new gastronomic standard!”

Hold the French Fries! Paris Olympics Chart a New Gastronomic Course. https://t.co/x921oEDYiq

— Eric Nelson, Ph.D. (@CommodoreNelson) May 29, 2024

And indeed, fries will be prohibited. For safety reasons. Because, according to the American daily, if potatoes will be well served among the 500 dishes and the 45,000 meals served daily, there is no question of frying them in a fryer. A question of fire safety according to Charles Guilloy, one of the two chefs in charge of the menus at the Olympic village.

Least imported products

But the New York Times has uncovered other prohibited foods. Especially lawyers. This time, it's not a matter of security, but of the environment: "It's no to the lawyers, confirms Charles Guilloy.Because they are imported from very far away and consume a lot of water.

French fries will not be on the menu at the 2024 Paris Olympics, in which 40,000 meals are planning to be distributed a day. #USATOlympics #USATOriginals #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/cmNgOxbkTS

— USA TODAY Sports (@usatodaysports) May 30, 2024

No foie gras either. Here again it is not a question of nutritional qualities that are too high or highly questionable for a high-level athlete but rather "of animal well-being", underlines the leader.

One signature dish per day

That said, there will be something to please the athletes in the great tradition of French gastronomy: in addition to the possibility of eating grilled meats, pastas, soups, salads , cheeses, fruits and dairy products, served continuously, a signature dish will be offered every day like smoked and salted burnt hake, with tapioca bound in a vegetable broth from Alexandre Mazzia.

A thousand people were recruited to feed the athletes. It was the Sodexo group that won the call for tenders. The latter is committed to offering during the competition to offer "100 % French products for fruits and vegetables, meat and dairy products". And also to fight against food waste.