The British Food Standards Agency estimates that there are 3.5-million vegetarians and 250,000 vegans in the UK and,
after consultation with both vegetarian and vegan groups, have decided to formulate labeling guidelines to food
producers to follow. There is lots of confusion about the definitions of the terms among consumers, as well as
manufacturers. Generally speaking, vegetarians refrain from eating meat products and vegans avoid all animal-derived
products, including dairy and eggs. The purpose of introducing such guidelines is to prevent manufacturers from
incorrectly identifying products as "vegetarian" or "vegan" when they actually contain meat-based
or animal derived ingredients. To be sure all their bases were covered, the also defined the term "animals."
With standards in place, consumers no longer need to worry that what they are picking up might contain undisclosed
ingredients. The official
guidelines are:
"Vegetarian: The term 'vegetarian' should not be applied to foods that are, or are made from, or with, the aid of products derived from animals that have died, have been slaughtered, or animals that die as a result of being eaten.
Animals means farmed, wild or domestic animals, including for example, livestock poultry, game, fish, shellfish, crustacea, amphibians, tunicates, echinoderms, mollusks and insects.
Vegan: The term 'vegan' should not be applied to foods that are, or are made from, or with, the aid of animals or animal products (including products from living animals)."
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-08-2006 @ 5:43PM
Dhaval said...
I admire the efforts of the UK to have such a small minority of its population represented in the grocer's aisles.
It's a shame that the U.S. hasn't applied a similar standing.
I do worry, however, because many vegetarians eat all sorts of dairy products such as milk, cheese, and yogurt, but will refuse to ingest eggs. They will have to be clearly informed of the technicalities otherwise will end up consuming products that are against their strict regimens.
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4-08-2006 @ 10:07PM
Shari said...
Those who are just lacto- and not ovo-lacto will still benefit from the labeling and can rely on basic reading skills to sort out the rest. While I personally don't consider 1 in 20 Britons to be a "small minority," surely just-lactos would fit that definition even amongst the vegetarian population.
Besides, start catering to the sub-sub-categories of vegetarianism and next thing you know the so-called "pesco-vegetarians" and "pollo-vegetarians" will want their turn... *shudder* :)
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