Tesco is to launch a meat- and dairy-free sausage roll at its in-store bakeries — but has stopped short of calling it vegan.

The roll, which Tesco said doesn’t contain any meat or dairy, comprises puff pastry filled with a soya-based Lincolnshire-style sausage, seasoned with sage and onion. It will retail for 75p and will be available from Monday 22 April at 624 stores nationwide.

Tesco said, although the new sausage roll does not contain any meat or dairy ingredients, it has chosen not to call it vegan as the product is baked in its in-store ovens alongside the rest of its bakery range.

According to The Vegan Society website there is no legal definition of the term vegan, and the society states it is not against foods labelled as vegan also carrying a ‘may contain’ warning about animal allergens.

The launch follows a multitude of vegan sausage rolls from bakers, and the success of Greggs vegan sausage roll which launched at selected stores in January, and was later rolled out across its entire estate. Greggs said its launch had helped boost an “exceptional sales performance”.

Tesco has also made the move of placing plant-based alternatives next to its meat in supermarket aisles to cater for growing flexitarian lifestyles.