There are over 7.3 million vegetarians in the United States, and each of them has to painstakingly review the ingredients list of every food item before purchase. It is time that the FDA require a label or warning that classifies whether food items are suitable for vegetarians or vegans.

Certain items like gelatin and rennet (found in cheeses) are not vegetarian, yet many vegetarians like me have accidentally consumed these foods due to lack of proper labelling. Being vegetarian or vegan is an important facet of nearly every major world religion, and many others choose to be vegetarian or vegan for their own reasons. Just as we have labels for allergens, let us require food manufacturers to label products depending on their suitability for vegetarians or vegans!