I know a few people who say they are vegetarian but still eat fish. But what I need to know is, can restaurants serve fish and call the dish vegetarian? I was talking to a Chef recently who felt that as some Veggies eat fish, he could put it on his menu with a "V" next to it. Are there any official guidelines restaurants have to adhere to? Thanks
I owned a restaurant, and I'm quite sure he can't put fish on the menu and mark the dish vegetarian. True vegetarians don't eat the flesh of any living creature, so that would be misleading, and as such would contravene the law. If you need clarification, phone your local Trading Standards office.
In my opinion it would be wrong and a bit stupid to label a meal with fish in as vegetarian, though we vegetarians are a canny bunch and know what we eat and what we don't regardless of any symbols on a menu. I don't know if there are any regulations regarding menus, though I suppose trade descriptions may be the answer as it's a wrong description of the type of meal. But the chef is totally wrong anyway saying some veggies eat fish..the bottom line is that anyone who eats fish is NOT a vegetarian.
i am also veggie and if i ordered a dish marked with a V and found fish their would be a very quick complaint being made in the restaurant followed by a referral to local trading standards.
I've got to agree with everyone above... I have a real need to know if a dish contains any fish (as I have mentioned elsewhere, my throat literally closes up and I cannot breathe). I get seriously annoyed with someone says they are veggie but also eat fish .... doh !!!!! They should simply follow the guidelines given out by the Vegetarian Society (veggie = no meat or fish; vegan = no meat, fish, dairy produce or eggs).