India, Sept. 30 -- Your shampoo may soon have to answer: is it vegetarian or non-vegetarian? Under an amendment to the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, soaps, shampoos, toothpaste, cosmetics and toiletries now must carry a green symbol for vegetarian origin or a red or brown one for non-vegetarian origin. This change makes ingredient sourcing easier to spot for shoppers guided by religious or ethical preferences. However, dermatologists caution against treating the symbol as a verdict on the product. A green dot may not always tell you whether a face cream will irritate your skin or whether a shampoo will work. "Personal beliefs and ethical preferences are valid reasons to want greater transparency, but that should go hand-in-hand with evidence-based attention to ingredients, allergies and individual suitability. The best approach is to use the dot as a first filter, but never as a substitute for reading the label carefully," explains Dr Nandini Dadu of Dadu Medical Centre....