The holy trinity (Picture: Walkers / Metro)

If you’re vegetarian and a crisp lover, you will remember the dark days of February 2013 well.

You can now get a gin that tastes like Christmas dinner

For that was the month that Walkers crisps announced they were starting to put extracts of real meat in their previously vegetarian Smoky Bacon and Roast Chicken flavour crisps.

I felt betrayed – Walkers Meaty Variety Packs had been my hangover comfort blanket for years, and that was suddenly and cruelly being taken away from me.

As a coping mechanism, I went into a period of mourning, donning a black veil and retreating into a dark cave with only a picture of Gary Lineker, and my few remaining veggie meat crisps for company.


Total bae Gary Lineker has been endorsing Walkers since 1995 (Picture: Tim Whitby/Getty Images)

Fast forward three years and I’m in Sainsburys, wistfully running my finger over a Walkers Meaty Variety Pack when my eyes glance at the ingredients list and I’m stopped dead in my tracks.



Is that…? No, it can’t be.

HOLY SH*T.

Walkers have only gone and made their Smoky Bacon and Roast Chicken flavours vegetarian again!

After inhaling the entire multipack, I got on the blower to Walkers.

‘We can confirm that we have made adjustments to the seasonings we use on Walkers Smoky Bacon and Roast Chicken Flavoured crisps and that they are now suitable for vegetarians,’ a spokesperson from Walkers Crisps told Metro.co.uk.

‘As part of Walkers’ ongoing innovation, our taste experts have created meat-free seasonings that maintain the same great flavour. Beef & Onion and Cheddar Cheese & Bacon have always been suitable for vegetarians.’

This is now a chicken-free zone, just like the good old days (Picture: Walkers)

But before you grab your coat and rush off to the supermarket – heed this word of warning.

‘Due to the 12 week shelf life of our crisps, there may be a period whereby we are transitioning from the previous packs to the new ones,’ advises the very wise Walkers’ spokesperson.

‘The information provided on the back of the pack is always clearly labelled so please look for the ones that state “Suitable for Vegetarians”‘.

A vegetarian and vegan guide to Walkers meat flavours: Vegetarian Smoky Bacon Beef & Onion Cheddar Cheese & Bacon Vegan Roast Chicken Prawn Cocktail

Walkers’ website is yet to update their FAQ section regarding the meaty crisps, but that’s just because Metro.co.uk is too on the pulse when it comes to matters of the potato.

(You can thank me later.)

I’m off to pour the entire contents of a meaty multipack into a large bowl to play a celebratory game of crisp roulette.

What a time to be alive, eh?

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