diff --git a/backend/main.py b/backend/main.py
index 578e4a6..1784b96 100644
--- a/backend/main.py
+++ b/backend/main.py
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 import logging
+import os
+import time
 from contextlib import asynccontextmanager
 
 from fastapi import FastAPI
@@ -161,6 +163,7 @@ app = FastAPI(
     version="1.0.0",
     lifespan=lifespan,
 )
+STARTED_AT = str(int(time.time() * 1000))
 
 # No CORS middleware — same-origin via nginx (A1)
 
@@ -199,4 +202,4 @@ app.include_router(internal_router)
 
 @app.get("/health")
 async def health_check():
-    return {"status": "healthy"}
+    return {"status": "healthy", "version": os.environ.get("BUILD_VERSION", STARTED_AT)}
diff --git a/frontend/src/App.tsx b/frontend/src/App.tsx
index 1d7eb40..40d26da 100644
--- a/frontend/src/App.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/App.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 import React from 'react'
 import { Routes, Route, Navigate } from 'react-router-dom'
 import AuthGate, { useAuth } from './components/AuthGate'
+import { UpdateBanner } from './components/UpdateBanner'
+import { useVersionCheck } from './hooks/useVersionCheck'
 import Layout from './components/Layout'
 import { can } from './types'
 
@@ -51,7 +53,9 @@ import BulkAllergens from './components/BulkAllergens'
 import PriceImpact from './components/PriceImpact'
 
 export default function App() {
+  const updateAvailable = useVersionCheck('/kitchen/health')
   return (
+    <>
     <AuthGate>
       <Routes>
         {/* Fullscreen PWA routes — no sidebar layout */}
@@ -110,5 +114,7 @@ export default function App() {
         </Route>
       </Routes>
     </AuthGate>
+    <UpdateBanner visible={updateAvailable} />
+    </>
   )
 }
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/UpdateBanner.tsx b/frontend/src/components/UpdateBanner.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b492c67
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/components/UpdateBanner.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+import { RefreshCw } from 'lucide-react'
+
+export function UpdateBanner({ visible }: { visible: boolean }) {
+  if (!visible) return null
+  return (
+    <div style={{
+      position: 'fixed',
+      bottom: 0,
+      left: 0,
+      right: 0,
+      zIndex: 9999,
+      background: 'var(--sidebar)',
+      color: 'var(--text-light)',
+      display: 'flex',
+      alignItems: 'center',
+      justifyContent: 'center',
+      gap: '12px',
+      padding: '10px 16px',
+      fontSize: '14px',
+      boxShadow: '0 -2px 8px rgba(0,0,0,0.3)',
+    }}>
+      <span>A new version is available.</span>
+      <button
+        onClick={() => window.location.reload()}
+        style={{
+          display: 'flex',
+          alignItems: 'center',
+          gap: '6px',
+          background: 'var(--accent)',
+          color: 'var(--sidebar)',
+          border: 'none',
+          borderRadius: '4px',
+          padding: '6px 14px',
+          fontWeight: 600,
+          cursor: 'pointer',
+          fontSize: '13px',
+        }}
+      >
+        <RefreshCw size={14} strokeWidth={1.75} />
+        Reload
+      </button>
+    </div>
+  )
+}
diff --git a/frontend/src/hooks/useVersionCheck.ts b/frontend/src/hooks/useVersionCheck.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e4fed28
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/hooks/useVersionCheck.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+import { useEffect, useState } from 'react'
+
+const POLL_MS = 2 * 60 * 1000
+
+export function useVersionCheck(healthUrl: string) {
+  const [updateAvailable, setUpdateAvailable] = useState(false)
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    let seenVersion: string | null = null
+
+    async function check() {
+      try {
+        const res = await fetch(healthUrl, { cache: 'no-store' })
+        if (!res.ok) return
+        const data = await res.json()
+        const v: string | undefined = data.version
+        if (!v) return
+        if (seenVersion === null) {
+          seenVersion = v
+        } else if (v !== seenVersion) {
+          setUpdateAvailable(true)
+        }
+      } catch {
+        // network error — skip silently
+      }
+    }
+
+    check()
+    const interval = setInterval(check, POLL_MS)
+
+    function onVisible() {
+      if (document.visibilityState === 'visible') check()
+    }
+    document.addEventListener('visibilitychange', onVisible)
+
+    return () => {
+      clearInterval(interval)
+      document.removeEventListener('visibilitychange', onVisible)
+    }
+  }, [healthUrl])
+
+  return updateAvailable
+}