Label guide · Vegan · Vegetarian · Allergen labels
Vegan, vegetarian and dairy-free labels answer different questions
How to separate a food’s stated category from its ingredients and allergen information on an Indian pack.
A vegetarian mark is not a promise that a food contains no milk. Start by deciding which question matters for you.
Separate preference from allergy information
A food can be vegetarian and contain milk. Vegan labelling addresses animal-derived ingredients and related requirements. An allergen declaration addresses another concern.
Read the ingredients and allergen warning even when a front label appears to match your preference. Do not treat a leaf illustration, a green colour scheme or a broad plant-based claim as a substitute.
Sources: ICMR-NIN: Dietary Guidelines for Indians 2024, label-reading chapter (PDF)
If the information is incomplete
Ask the manufacturer about the exact product, its ingredient sources and any shared production relevant to your needs. Keep the response with the label photograph. A reply about another flavour does not settle your question.
For an allergy, follow your clinician’s advice about avoidance and uncertainty. Heal’s editorial score is not an allergy suitability assessment.
What the new import amendment adds
The September 2026 vegan amendment specifies an import certificate for products applying for logo endorsement. Its commencement is 1 April 2027. It should not be mistaken for a present-day endorsement of every imported product.
Our review keeps the official status, the declared recipe and any missing details separate. A missing document is a reason to show uncertainty, rather than invent a certification.
Sources: Official Gazette: Vegan Foods Second Amendment Regulations, September 2026 (PDF) · Heal.Abhi: our evidence and scoring method
Sources and further reading
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