Vegetarian Food Pitfalls

[CalzoneOnLegs]

Is it okay if I start this thread inspired by the vegan fish thread, it’s mainly to ask what pitfalls you have discovered with ready made (ie ‘store bought’) food that you assumed was vegetarian and didn’t read the label as we don’t always have time for that. Not food but MN made me realise that fabric softener contained tallow which is beef fat and I never knew this until recenlty. Waitrose Essentials is vegan/vegetarian so that’s all I will buy now. (I realise most MN’s hate anything smelling in the washing though !)

items that have caught me out
Gino Di Campo macaroni cheese contained chicken stock (but his food range is discontinued I think)
liquorice all sorts from Grape Tree with beef gelatine in them
McCain and marks and Spencer ‘Gastro’ chips with beef dripping
some yogurt with gelatine

luckily I looked at the labels at home before eating and donated them

some of the nicer cheeses are made with animal rennet especially Italian/french this one is a minefield actually

Ive not noticed the vegan items are affected as they are clearly marketed as vegan

Worcestershire sauce. Got anchovies in it.

@Viot yes - a perfect example

Some pesto is just standard pesto made with parmesan, basil, pine nuts and olive oil. Some randomly has fish in too.

We used to regularly buy a shawarma seasoning paste but the brand got discontinued. I happily bought a different brand of the same stuff and it turned out to be non-veggie (I'm not veggie but DH is)

Stir fry sauces sometimes too.

It’s not until you get home and in my case, put my specs on that these things become apparent is it.

Caeser salad dressing. Often has anchovies.
Pesto. Often has parmesan or other non vegetarian cheese.
Fruit fool, made with gelatine.
Gu pots, sometimes with gelatine.
Supernoodles, may contain crustaceans ( chicken ones are ok I think)
French cream cheese, non vegetarian rennet.
Some meaty flavour crisps, others totally fine.
Chocolate deserts like rolo or milky bar have gelatine.

@hexsnidgett yes ! WRT to crisps the normal walkers are fine and they make it very clear on the packing but those ‘sensations’ ones have meat In them.