Vegan foods may contain animal traces

Until 'vegan' is defined in Irish or EU law, there is a risk of cross-contamination in the production process, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has warned. File Picture.

Labelling food as 'vegan' does not always guarantee the absence of animal products, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has warned.

There is no legal definition of 'vegan' in EU or Irish food law, meaning that products which are labelled as 'vegan' do not necessarily contain no traces of egg, milk, fish, molluscs and crustaceans.