There isn\'t a single legal definition of the word \'vegetarian\', either in the UK or in Europe. This means there isn\'t one set of rules about when a food can be called vegetarian. So what a \'vegetarian\' food does or doesn\'t contain could vary from product to product.

If a food is labelled vegetarian, this usually means that the food doesn\'t contain any meat or animal-derived additives such as gelatine (a gelling agent derived from animal ligaments, skins, tendons, bones etc.) In the case of cheese, it usually means that animal-derived rennet hasn\'t been used to make it.

Some vegetarians are stricter about what foods they avoid than others. Remember, if you want to avoid a particular ingredient, you can check the ingredients list on a food\'s label.

Manufacturers aren\'t required to label foods as \'suitable for vegetarians\' because this is a voluntary practice. This means there are many foods without the \'suitable for vegetarians\' logo that don\'t contain meat or animal-derived additives.

Foods approved by the Vegetarian Society can display the Society\'s \'Seedling Symbol\'. To be approved, the food must meet a number of conditions, not just be free of meat and animal-derived additives. For example, foods containing eggs will only be approved if the eggs used are free-range.

Even though there isn\'t one set of rules about when a food can be called vegetarian, general labelling laws prohibit manufacturers and retailers from describing a food in a misleading way

Food Standards Agency, UK