The meat-flavoured snacks you love that are actually vegetarian...as EU bans them to avoid 'confusing customers'

They might taste just like the real thing, but some of Britain's best-loved meaty snacks are perfectly suitable for vegetarians.

But the days of tucking into a packet of steak-flavoured crisps or chicken noodles could be about to change.

EU officials are cracking down on plant-based foods using meaty names – even when they contain no animal proteins – because it could be confusing for customers.

But industry bosses have warned the proposals risk catching crisps and snacks in the crossfire.

While the proposals are being developed by the EU, there is speculation that Andy Burnham could align the UK with the bloc's food and drink rules next month.  

This could potentially spell change for a swathe of British classics such as Walkers' Smoky Bacon and Roast Chicken, which don't contain any meat, despite their names.

So, which other supermarket staples are meat-flavoured but are actually suitable for vegetarians? 

There's no chicken in a chicken Pot Noodle 

They are a lunchtime staple in millions of British households, but many meat-flavoured instant noodles contain no meat at all.

Take the iconic Chicken and Mushroom Pot Noodle.

Despite its name, the product gets its flavour from a blend of ingredients like soy sauce, enhancers, mushroom concentrate and yeast powder rather than chicken.

These ingredients help create umami – the rich, savoury taste commonly associated with meat, stock and gravy. 

The Pot Noodle is therefore suitable for vegetarians, although it contains milk powder, meaning it is not vegan. 

It's a similar story for Chicken Super Noodles, made by Batchelors, marketed as suitable for vegetarians.

It contains ingredients like yeast extract, flavourings and enhancers, alongside onion, garlic, turmeric and black pepper.

There's no prawns in prawn cocktail 

Some of the country's best-known meaty crisps contain no meat at all.

That may be surprising given just how convincing some of the flavours can be. 

Bacon-flavoured Frazzles, for instance, contain no pork whatsoever.

The secret to their distinctive flavour comes from a bacon-flavoured seasoning containing soy protein, yeast extracts, flavour enhancers and smoked flavourings. 

Walkers' Roast Chicken crisps also contain no chicken. 

Their flavour is created using a blend of flavourings, onion powder, sage and paprika extract designed to mimic the taste of a traditional roast dinner.

Meanwhile, the fishy taste of Walkers' Prawn Cocktail crisps is created via a combination of tomato powder, onion powder, yeast powder and acids such as citric acid.

Bisto is suitable for veggies...and vegans! 

Another interesting example is gravy, historically made from the juices that naturally come from roasting meats.

A popular instant product, Bisto's Original Gravy Powder, is famous for its meaty flavour and is commonly served alongside roast beef, lamb and chicken.

Yet it, too, contains no animal ingredients at all.

It is made using ingredients such as potato starch, salt, wheat starch, onion powder and inactive yeast powder, making it suitable for vegetarians.

 But it's always best to check the label if in any doubt.