Are Your Vegetarian Empanadas Really Vegetarian? Here’s What Many UK Restaurants Get Wrong

4 minutes reading time (very valuable)

If your menu includes vegetarian or vegan empanadas, there’s an uncomfortable truth you might need to confront.

We found out that many empanada discs used in UK food service today, especially those imported from Europe, contain animal fat. Yet they’re routinely served in dishes marketed as vegetarian or vegan.

We’re not here to point fingers. But we are here to raise a flag, because this simple oversight could be putting your restaurant or catering business at risk of non-compliance with UK Food Standards, not to mention a loss of customer trust.

The Hidden Ingredient That Could Cost You

Let’s break it down.

A number of empanada discs made in Europe use:

• Italian wheat flour, which may not meet British allergen labelling standards

• Animal-derived fats such as pork lard or beef tallow

• Ambiguous ingredient declarations, if any at all

The result? A product that looks vegetarian… but isn’t.

And if your menu says otherwise, you could be in breach of food labelling regulations.

Under UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) rules, for a product to be labelled suitable for vegetarians or vegans, it must not include any ingredients derived from animals. That includes small amounts of animal fats used in dough preparation.

And here’s the kicker: most of this goes unnoticed, until a customer questions it or a trading standards officer investigates.

 

Why So Many Restaurants Get Caught Out

Most of the time, this happens unintentionally. Restaurant owners, chefs and caterers rely on distributors or importers who may not clearly highlight the ingredients used in their products. When the ingredient list says “fat” or “shortening” without specifying the source, it’s easy to assume it’s plant-based.

 

But as professionals in food service, assumption isn’t good enough, not when it comes to dietary claims that impact religious, ethical or health-based dietary choices.

 

And let’s be honest: it only takes one complaint from a well-informed customer to spark a review, damage your online reputation, or worse, trigger a compliance audit.

 

What Makes Casa Argentina’s Empanada Discs Different?

We believe transparency is non-negotiable.

Our empanada discs are:

• Made in Argentina, where empanada making is a national craft

• Produced using 100% vegetable-based fat, no animal products, ever

• Accompanied by clear, complete ingredient declarations.

• Fully compliant with UK vegetarian labelling guidelines.

 

When you use Casa Argentina discs, you can be confident your Vegetarian or Vegan menu is exactly that.

No grey areas. No guesswork. No risk.

 

Not Sure About Your Current Supplier? Let’s Check Together

 

Whether you’re an independent kitchen or a national chain, it’s worth reviewing your ingredient sources, especially if you’re promoting Vegetarian or Vegan based options.

We can help you "free of charge" check whether your current empanada disc supplier is giving you and your business the peace of mind you deserve.

Your Customers Deserve the Truth

Food choices are personal. Whether someone chooses vegetarian or vegan options for ethical, environmental or religious reasons, they rely on you to be honest about what’s on the plate.

Getting it wrong can mean more than a bad review, it can mean a breach of trust. Let’s make sure that never happens.

Because when it comes to building customer loyalty, clarity is kindness, and transparency is power.

Let’s work together to ensure we’re all doing the right thing, because this isn’t just about saving a few pennies on a product. It’s about being honest and transparent with the people who trust you most: your customers.