As a strict vegetarian, I have faced numerous challenges when shopping for food and drink products. The absence of clear labelling indicating whether a product is suitable for vegetarians or vegans has often led to confusion and frustration. It's not just about checking every single ingredient; sometimes, even after thorough scrutiny, products that seem fine lack a "suitable for vegetarians" label. This ambiguity forces us to seek additional information online or directly from the companies, which is time-consuming and inconvenient.

This issue affects millions across the UK who follow vegetarian or vegan diets out of personal choice, religious beliefs, health reasons or concern for animal welfare. In 2024, there are 3.1 million vegetarians in the UK, making up 5.8% of the population.  2.5 million vegans in the UK, 4.7% of the population.

Currently, 16% of the UK population follows a meat-free diet (8.6 million people) - that's 16% of the population who could benefit from clearer labelling.

We propose that it be made compulsory for all food and drink companies in the UK to clearly state on their packaging if their product is "not suitable for vegetarians" or "not suitable for vegans", along with specific reasons why (e.g., contains egg). Similarly, all products should also be required to carry labels stating they are "suitable for vegetarians" or "suitable for vegans". 

This change will not only make shopping easier but also ensure transparency between consumers and manufacturers. It will help people make informed choices about what they consume based on their dietary preferences.

Join us in urging our government to enforce this necessary change in food labelling regulations by signing this petition today!