11 Foods and Condiments You Thought Were Vegan but Aren’t

Jan 23 2020 by Phoebe McRae

As Veganuary rolls around for yet another year, so too does the confusion surrounding the vegan status of many different food and drinks. For those transitioning from eating meat to living on a 100-percent plant-based diet, it's hard enough to stay disciplined (and give up cheese!), let alone know what you can and can't eat.

While you can be confident that every single fruit and vegetable that exists is on the yes list, beyond that, it gets a little complicated. For example, there are many things suited to vegetarians that are a big no no for vegans. Unfortunately, it goes beyond recognisable ingredients on the nutrition label, so you really do need to do a little reading to get up to date on what you should be cautious of.

If you're hopping on the Veganuary bandwagon this January, or any other month of the year, click through for a quick refresher of things you probably didn't realise you can no longer eat.

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Honey

I know I might be stating the obvious, but people still forget that honey comes from bees. Bees are animals. Honey is not vegan. It's a simple as that.

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Gum

Some brands of gum use animal-derived ingredients like gelatin and glycerin to bind the product and make it chewy. As long as you read the label and look out for these things, you generally you should be fine, but it's also worth doing some research to see which brands are 100-percent animal-friendly. The same kinds of ingredients can also be found in marshmallows.

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Bread

You can't go wrong with avocado on toast for breakfast. That is, of course, unless you're vegan. While you should be safe with a fresh slice of sourdough, other styles of bread are often made with milk, butter, or eggs. Brioche, for example, is out of the question.

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Worcestershire Sauce

If you look closer at the label of your beloved Lea & Perrin's Worcestershire sauce, you'll find that one of the main ingredients is anchovies. While that definitely explains its distinct taste, unfortunately if you're vegan, you'll have to go without. Other condiments that are often beloved but aren't vegan-friendly include horseradish, fish sauce, and mayonnaise.

Image Source: leaandperrins.co.uk

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Chips

Considering chips are made from potatoes, you could be forgiven for thinking that they're vegan. However, some companies and restaurants cook their chips in beef or duck fat, so it's best to be wary.

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Beer

If you're vegan, you may need to rethink your choice of pint. The Guardian reported that many cask ales found in the UK contain isinglass, which comes from fish, and other animal-derived products. Luckily, as plant-based eating becomes more popular, more and more breweries are leaving them out, so it's simply a matter of checking online.

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Oreos

There's been so much confusion about whether or not Oreos are vegan over the years that the company has had to put our a press release to address the matter. Unfortunately, these tasty chocolate treats contain traces of milk, so they shouldn't be consumed by plant-based eaters.

Image Source: unsplash.com / Mae Mu

Sweets

Like gum, when it comes to sweets, you need to look out for anything made with gelatin. You should also stay away from red sweets, which are often made with carmine, and anything that's got a gloss coating, which usually contains shellac. Both ingredients are derived from insects.

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Pasta

If you're ordering pasta in a restaurant (minus the cheese), it's worth checking with your waiter if the pasta is vegan, as some fresh pasta is made with eggs. Other than that, most store-bought pasta will be vegan unless it explicitly states it contains traces of eggs.

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Cereal

Almost all cereals are vegetarian friendly, but some do come into contact with traces animal-derived products during production, which is why many don't call themselves vegan. According to The Telegraph, there are also a few popular brands that fortify their cereals with with vitamin D from animals.

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Wine

Like beer, your daily glass of vino may not be as animal-friendly as it seems. Certain varieties are filtered through substances that contain animals products including isinglass, fish oil, and gelatin, among others. Ultimately, the more natural the wine, the more likely it is to be vegan.

Image Source: unsplash.com / Ronan Furata

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