---
title: "Non-vegetarian mark (India) — what it means"
description: "In India, the product contains an animal-derived ingredient, including egg. What the symbol looks like, what happens if you ignore it, and where its meaning differs "
url: https://atoneplace.net/symbol/food-nonveg-india/
site: "At One Place"
---

# 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

- [Vegetarian mark (India)](https://atoneplace.net/symbol/food-veg-india/)
- [Food safe (glass and fork)](https://atoneplace.net/symbol/food-glass-and-fork/)
- [Not for food contact](https://atoneplace.net/symbol/food-not-food-safe/)
- [One star freezer compartment](https://atoneplace.net/symbol/food-freezer-star-1/)
- [Two star freezer compartment](https://atoneplace.net/symbol/food-freezer-star-2/)
- [Three star freezer compartment](https://atoneplace.net/symbol/food-freezer-star-3/)
- [Four star freezer — freezes fresh food](https://atoneplace.net/symbol/food-freezer-star-4/)
- [Vegetarian mark (India)](https://atoneplace.net/symbol/food-veg-india/)

## Sources

- Official vendor product documentation — At One Place (/about/)