In menu costing, which statement best defines wrap cost?

• A. The total cost of a dish, including labor and overhead.
• B. The total cost of a dish, not just ingredients.
• C. The revenue from selling a dish.
• D. The cost of packaging for a dish.

Answer: (B)

Wrap cost in menu costing represents the full cost of producing and presenting a dish, not just the raw ingredients. To price items accurately, you must include every input that contributes to the dish—ingredients, the labor to prepare it, the overhead of running the kitchen, and sometimes packaging. This full cost is what you base pricing on to ensure profitability. That’s why the statement describing wrap cost as the total cost of a dish, not just ingredients, is the correct fit. It avoids focusing only on ingredient costs and recognizes that other components add to the cost too.