National Vegetarian Week 2009 will take place from Monday 18 May to Sunday 24 May, it has been confirmed.

The week is a well established event in the British culinary calendar, a celebration of delicious food and fresh ingredients.

Now in its seventeenth year, National Vegetarian Week is a great opportunity to look at food and its impact on the environment, animals and health.

The week isn't just about food though, it offers great business opportunities through launches, special offers, holding sampling sessions and getting into the media spotlight.

Organisations such as schools and libraries can get involved too - with displays, discussions and debates.

In 2008, over 1400 businesses, schools, pubs, caterers, libraries and retailers all got involved with the week, to see what they got up to visit www.vegsoc.org/nvw

National Vegetarian Week is the annual awareness-raising campaign promoting inspirational vegetarian food and the benefits of a meat-free lifestyle.