WHAT CAN BE NON-VEGETARIAN?
* Lard is obtained from the fatty tissue of pigs and is used in some varieties of cookies.

* Prepackaged rice and pasta dishes may contain chicken or beef fat, even if not mentioned as a flavouring.

* Most chocolates contain E 322 and lecithin. Some brands clearly specify the use of soya lecithin, which is vegetarian.

* Readymade pastries and pie crusts are often made with animal fats to enhance flavours.

* Margarine in some places may contain fish oil.

* Refried beans also frequently contain lard.

* Chewing gum may contain glycerin.

* Cheeses contain rennet that is derived from the stomachs of cows. Rennet is used to coagulate cheese (the vegetarian substitute is called renin).

* Jellies, guacamole, nougat and gummy candies can contain gelatin that is sometimes made from the hides, bones and hooves and tendons of pigs or cows. Jell-OTM contains gelatin from animal hides that are sprayed with a food-approved acid that turns collagen into gelatin.

* Wines and beers often contain gelatin and isinglass — a chemical made from fish bladders.

* Medicines, especially capsules, contain animal gelatins, and many vitamins are derived from animal sources.

* Calcium supplements, often added to cereals, may contain animal bones.

* Vitamin D-3 is animal derived.

* The term ‘natural flavours’ can indicate any acceptable food flavouring, whether animal or plant derived.

THE SUBSTITUTES YOU CAN USE
* To replace gelatin, look for agar, carragen and gelozone
* To replace chocolate, use carobe, which is available in Europe.
* To replace rennet, look for rennin, the vegetarian version.
* Most derivatives that contain the term ‘soya’ in front of it, imply that a vegetarian alternative has been used.

THESE PRODUCTS ARE ALWAYS ANIMAL DERIVED
* Lard
* Tallow
* Carmine
* Carminic acid

INGREDIENTS THAT MAY BE OF ANIMAL ORIGIN
* Sodium stearoyl
* Lactylate
* Glycerin/glycerol
* Trypsin
* Oleic acid/Olein
* Oxystearin
* Enzymes
* Tween
* Fatty acids
* Steering
* Spermaceti
* Pepsin
* Magnesium stearate
* Stabilisers
* Palmitin
* Polysorbater
* Lecithin
* Emulsifiers
* Sodium stearoyl lactylate
* Stearic acid
* Mono and di glycerides
* Amylase
* Lipase
* Protease
* Rennet
* Trypsin
* Sisodium Inosinate
* Vitamin D-3
* E nos 120, 140, 141, 153, 161, 252, 280, 322, 352, 385, 430-436, 450, 470-478, 481-483, 491-495, 509, 516, 526, 540, 545, 552, 570, 572, 623, 627, 631, 635, 904.

Photograph: Ajay Ghatage
Model: Rosie Hieneman
Photograph: Satyaki Ghosh

Got any QUESTIONS or comments? E-MAIL us AT femina@timesgroup.com with `consumer -- So, You Think You’re Vegetarian?’ in the subject line