Shopping and labels
“May contain milk or eggs” – is the product still vegan?
Short answer
Usually yes, if the ingredients list has no animal-derived ingredients. “May contain” is a voluntary warning for people with allergies about possible traces from the production line, not an ingredient. The Vegan Society allows it even on products carrying its trademark.
EU law requires allergens used as ingredients to be highlighted in the ingredients list. Information about the possible, unintentional presence of an allergen is voluntary, and detailed EU rules on when to use it have still not been adopted. Manufacturers use it as a precaution, which is why a similar product from one brand carries the warning and another does not.
The Vegan Trademark Standards require cross-contamination to be minimised but explicitly allow “may contain” warnings, because the vegan trademark is not an allergy certification. If you are allergic to milk or eggs, take the warning seriously – being vegan and being allergy-safe are two different things.