Diets

Eating out vegetarian

FoodGong screens menus, recipes, and food photos for meat, poultry, fish, and hidden animal ingredients, flagging each dish vegetarian-friendly, Ask, or Avoid.

A dish without visible meat can still be made with stock, gelatin, or lard. FoodGong reads the whole menu or recipe and catches the hidden meat products.

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Safe for youAsk your serverAvoid

Hidden meat ingredients to watch

The non-obvious sources a busy server — or a short recipe — can miss. FoodGong flags them for you.

  • Meat and bone stock or broth in soups and sauces
  • Gelatin in desserts, marshmallows, and some yogurts
  • Fish sauce and anchovy (Worcestershire, Caesar dressing)
  • Lard in refried beans, pastry, and tortillas
  • Rennet in some cheeses
  • Bacon bits, gravy, and pan drippings

How FoodGong screens for vegetarian

Set vegetarian in your profile, then scan a menu, recipe, or dish. FoodGong checks each item for meat, fish, and hidden animal ingredients and sorts them vegetarian-friendly, Ask, or Avoid.

Frequently asked questions

Does it catch fish and gelatin?
Yes — it flags fish, fish sauce, anchovy, and gelatin, which are common reasons a seemingly vegetarian dish is not.
Can I also mark that I eat eggs or dairy?
Yes — set your profile to how you eat (e.g. lacto-ovo), and FoodGong screens to match.
Recipes and photos?
Yes. Paste or photograph a recipe or snap a dish, and FoodGong screens it ingredient by ingredient.

Related guides

Vegan →Halal →Dairy-free & lactose →All dining guides →

Screen your next menu for vegetarian.

Start free — unlimited scans of menus, recipes, and food photos, no card required.

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FoodGong helps you screen menus, recipes, and food photos and ask better questions. It is not a medical device and does not replace professional medical advice or confirmation from restaurant staff. For severe allergies, always verify with your server and carry any medication your doctor prescribes.