Day dot labelling
A Smarter Alternative to Day Dot Labels
Many UK kitchens still use colour-coded day dot stickers. The Prep Tag replaces them with printed day labels that show the day, product name, dates and a full audit trail.
What are day dot labels?
Day dot labels are colour-coded stickers used to show the day of the week a product was prepared or opened. Monday might be blue, Tuesday green and so on, depending on your kitchen system.
They are common in pubs, restaurants and catering prep rooms where teams need a quick visual day-coding method.
Colour-coded day-of-week systems in UK kitchens
Day dots help staff identify how long an item has been held, but they rely on everyone knowing the colour key and applying stickers consistently during busy service.
Limitations of day dot stickers
Missing product names and use-by dates
A coloured dot alone does not tell an EHO what the product is or when it must be discarded. Teams often add handwritten notes, which reintroduces inconsistency.
No audit trail for EHO inspections
Sticker systems leave no digital record of who labelled an item or when it was printed, making traceability harder during investigations or audits.
How printed day labels improve on day dots
Printed day labels keep the speed of day coding while adding product names, preparation dates, use-by times and operator details. Staff still work quickly, but the information on the container is complete.
Managers gain visibility through print logs and can standardise day coding across shifts and sites.
Day coding with The Prep Tag
Select a product, print a day or day-date label and apply it in seconds. Your team keeps moving during prep while your compliance records improve.
Making the switch from day dots without slowing prep
Start with high-risk prep items — sandwich fillings, sauces and proteins — then roll out across the kitchen. Most teams adapt within a single service because printing is faster than writing.
Frequently asked questions
- Can The Prep Tag replace our day dot sticker system?
- Yes. Many kitchens move from colour-coded day dots to printed day labels that include the day, product and use-by information in one step.
- Will staff slow down if we stop using day dots?
- Printing is typically faster than handwriting and reduces errors during busy prep. Labels are produced in seconds from saved products.
- Can we still show the day of the week on labels?
- Yes. Day and day-date label templates can display the day prominently alongside dates and product names.
- Is there a record of who applied each label?
- Print logs capture product, label type, quantity, staff and timestamp for audit purposes.
Related solutions
Upgrade your day coding system
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