Can Vegetarians Eat Eggs? The Complete Answer
Yes — ovo-vegetarians eat eggs by definition. Here is what the term means, why millions of vegetarians eat eggs, and how to know if it fits your diet.
6 min read · Updated November 4, 2026
The short answer
Yes, many vegetarians eat eggs. A vegetarian who eats eggs is called an ovo-vegetarian, and the informal term eggetarian is widely used — especially in India, where it is a recognized dietary identity. Eggs are not meat: they are unfertilized eggs laid by hens, containing no animal flesh.
Whether eggs fit your vegetarianism depends on which definition you follow, and there are several well-established ones.
The vegetarian spectrum
Vegetarianism is not one rule but a family of diets:
- Lacto-ovo vegetarian: eats dairy and eggs (the most common Western pattern)
- Ovo vegetarian: eats eggs but not dairy
- Lacto vegetarian: eats dairy but not eggs
- Vegan: eats neither, and no other animal products
- Eggetarian (informal): a vegetarian whose main animal protein is eggs
Why eggs are considered vegetarian
The eggs sold in stores are unfertilized — a hen lays them with or without a rooster, and they can never develop into a chick. Vegetarianism, at its core, avoids the slaughter of animals. An unfertilized egg involves no slaughter, which is why most vegetarian traditions that include dairy also accept eggs.
In India, the FSSAI explicitly recognizes the egg as a vegetarian-acceptable food under the 'egg mark' classification, and the term eggetarian appears on menus across the country.
Reasons some vegetarians avoid eggs
Some avoid eggs for religious reasons (certain Jain and Hindu traditions), some because of concerns about commercial farming practices, and some simply dislike the taste or texture. All are valid — vegetarianism is a spectrum, and this site exists for the part of that spectrum that says yes to eggs.
The nutritional case for eggs
For vegetarians, eggs are arguably the single most valuable protein source: one large egg delivers about 6 grams of complete protein with all nine essential amino acids, plus choline, vitamin B12 and vitamin D — nutrients that are harder to obtain on plant-only diets.
If you are a vegetarian who trains, eggs are the cheapest complete protein you can buy.
Frequently asked questions
What is a person who eats eggs but not meat called?
An ovo-vegetarian. The informal term eggetarian is also widely used, particularly in India.
Are eggs vegetarian or non-vegetarian?
Store-bought eggs are unfertilized and contain no animal flesh, so most definitions count them as vegetarian. Some religious traditions classify them as non-vegetarian, so personal practice varies.
Do eggetarians eat dairy?
Most do. An eggetarian typically eats eggs plus dairy, making them closer to a lacto-ovo vegetarian whose protein emphasis is eggs.