More than a third of ‘vegan’ foods contain animal products, prompting fearshoppers with severe allergies could face ‘tragic consequences’.
Traces of egg and milk were found in ‘plant-based’ goods following testing by Hampshire and Kent Scientific Services.
Inspectors found 24 out of 61 products they tested contained egg or dairy, including 13 dairy alternatives and 48 meat alternatives.
Around 90% were found to have failed for inaccuracies in their labelling and nutritional information.
They tested the vegan equivalents of chocolate truffles, pizza, burgers, muffins and wraps.
Some 76% of 2,000 people surveyed by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute believed products advertising themselves as vegan were free from animal products.
There is currently no legal definition for vegan food – meaning allergens may not be as clearly identified.
Trading standards bosses are now calling for legal protection to stop consumers being ‘exploited by unethical food businesses’.
John Herriman, the chief executive of the Chartered Trading Standards Institute, told the Guardian: ‘The lack of legal definition could be exploited by unethical food businesses claiming foods are as vegan, when in fact they contain animal-derived products.
‘Perhaps of greater concern is that this ambiguity can have disastrous and sometimes tragic consequences for those with allergies to animal-derived products, like milk and eggs.
‘We are aware that people have sadly lost their lives because of this and are therefore calling for more clarity on what can and can’t legally be described as vegan and plant-based food.’
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said: ‘Food labels must not be misleading to ensure consumers can have confidence in the food they are buying – which is why we require the presence of ingredients which may cause food allergies to be clearly highlighted on packaging.’
A woman with a severe peanut allergy died after suffering a deadly reaction at an Indian restaurant in west London.
Tania Kaur Khasriya had been dining in the Mehfil Restaurant in Southall for her brother’s pre-wedding celebration.
West London Coroner’s Court was told that the dish she ate at the North Indian restaurant is likely to have contained nuts.
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