Food for thought

Where does the law stand?

Restaurants stating that food is suitable for vegetarians or vegans must not do anything to mislead the consumer, according to regulations published by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

It is up to the local authority to enforce the regulations and any breach could be investigated by food enforcement officers or Trading Standards.

In extreme circumstances, the restaurant could lose its licence to trade.

It is also possible for a consumer who believes they have been misled as to the ingredients of a meal they have consumed to bring a civil claim against the restaurant.

However, if successful they might only be eligible to recover the cost of the meal.