This meal is not suitable for vegetarians

While in my local supermarket the other day I tore off a recipe card from one of the shelves above the chicken aisle. The recipe was for a chicken casserole. I picked up the ingredients; thyme, rosemary, onions, spring greens, baby carrots, chicken stock, garlic and chicken thighs and went home eager to start cooking.

As I read the recipe card, I performed each task as it was stated on the card. Slice onions into quarters, mix chicken stock and brown chicken in fry pan. Simple easy steps. I continued to read the card, pre-heat oven, place browned chicken, onions, carrots in casserole dish and cook for 45 minutes.

So far, so good, it seems relatively simple, and nothing requires you to have a Masters in Cooking.

But then, as I continued to read down the card I noticed a very strange comment. A comment that, after laughing initially, made me question both the people cooking this meal and the people making the recipe card: ‘This meal is not suitable for vegetarians’

I was confused. What part of the title ‘Chicken Casserole’ suggests it is suitable for vegetarians?

I understand there are meat substitutes, and some recipe cards provide the same recipe but for vegetarians; they give you the non-meat alternative - also known as Vegetable Casserole. However, on this occasion as there was not meat substitute…it was chicken casserole and it is highly likely, in my opinion, it is not going to be suitable for vegetarians.

As I continued to look at this statement on the recipe card, I thought why it is necessary to have this statement on a recipe card. Does the fact that this card has this statement on it mean that someone has made this error in the past and taken my supermarket to court? Was someone out there generally confused and thought unless it tells me it is not suitable for vegetarians this chicken casserole dish is suitable for vegetarians.

I think a recipe card for Chicken Casserole is self-explanatory. If a vegetarian, or a person cooking for a vegetarian, purchases chicken and chicken stock and makes chicken casserole only to discover later it is not suitable for vegetarians – because it has chicken in it – more fool them.

I then went to look at some other packets I had in my cupboards and fridge/freezer and realised, it was not just my supermarket recipe card who was catering for the stupid, I saw the packet of nuts in my pantry stated that the packet may contain nuts. I hope so otherwise I wonder what else could be in my macadamia nut pack!

Further hunting found that dairy might be found in my milk or milk related products. Lucky, they told me. I would otherwise given a tub of full fat milk yoghurt to my diary intolerant friend.

If we continue to cater for people who need these basics explained, we are allowing people to walk around absolutely oblivious to the obvious.

I say let’s take a stand, stop catering for the idiots and make people take some responsibility for their actions!