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Non-vegetarian mark (India)

Non-vegetarian mark (India)
In India, the product contains an animal-derived ingredient, including egg.

What it looks like

A filled brown or dark red triangle inside a brown square outline. Packs printed before the 2011 amendment show a filled circle instead of a triangle.

What it means

The counterpart to the green mark and mandatory on the same packs. The shape changed from a circle to a triangle so that the two marks could be told apart without relying on colour, which matters for colour-blind readers and for monochrome printing — older stock with a brown circle means exactly the same thing. Because egg counts as non-vegetarian in India, products a European shopper would consider vegetarian, such as egg pasta or mayonnaise, carry the brown mark.

Defined by Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, India. Where a symbol differs between standards, the difference is described above rather than resolved — both versions are in circulation on real labels.

Other food and food contact symbols

Symbol Means
Food safe (glass and fork) The article is intended to come into contact with food.
Not for food contact This material must not be used with food.
One star freezer compartment Reaches −6 °C. Store already-frozen food for about a week.
Two star freezer compartment Reaches −12 °C. Store already-frozen food for about a month.
Three star freezer compartment Reaches −18 °C. Store already-frozen food up to the date on the packaging.
Four star freezer — freezes fresh food Reaches −18 °C or colder and can freeze fresh food from room temperature.
Vegetarian mark (India) In India, the product contains no animal-derived ingredient.

Common questions

What does the non-vegetarian mark (india) symbol mean?
In India, the product contains an animal-derived ingredient, including egg.
What does it look like?
A filled brown or dark red triangle inside a brown square outline. Packs printed before the 2011 amendment show a filled circle instead of a triangle.

Related pages

Sources

  1. Official vendor product documentation — At One Place

How these figures are compiled and checked