Crisp manufacturers fear new EU rules could ban vegetarian snacks being described as meat-flavoured.

New EU rules have banned terms such as “steak” and “bacon” for vegetarian alternatives to avoid confusing consumers, while still allowing labels like “veggie burgers” and “meat-free sausages”.

However crisp manufacturers are now worried that flavours of crisps, such as “flame grilled steak” or “BBQ beef”, might fall foul of the rules.

Oliver Devaux, from the European Snacks Association - which represents Ireland’s Tayto and Sweden’s Estrella among others - told Politico that the legislation could impact meaty crisps.

He said: “Meaty names in the flavour description might be in scope”, adding that the association wanted clarity on whether the EU rules apply.

He is pushing for a specific exemption for flavourings to clear things up.

A range of crisps and snacks are displayed in a branch of the Tesco chain of supermarkets (Getty)

Under the rule changes, which were announced in May, EU lawmakers agreed to…