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Popular Tofu on Recall List for Chemical Contamination

Hodo Chili Crisp Lightly Fried Tofu on Recall List for Chemical Contamination
Amidst recent food recalls, including iceberg lettuce, jalapenos, alfalfa sprouts, and frozen blueberries, vegans have yet another product recall to be aware of. HODO Foods recently issued a tofu recall due to possible chemical contamination. The recall was issued on August 7, 2026, and affects only HODO products. Here is what you need to know.Over 10,000 cases of HODO’s Lightly Fried Chili Crisp Tofu have been recalled across 29 states. These 8-ounce refrigerated packages are believed to have potential chemical contamination from the ink used to label the containers. Affected containers display the UPC 850565007842 and use-by dates from May 15, 2026 – November 7, 2026.
The recall has affected over 10,000 six-unit cases of tofu, 486 cases containing 30 units each, and another 166 individual units of Tofu with dates from May 15th to November 7th, 2026.
Cooking does not eliminate the chemical contaminant, so the food should not be consumed. Instead, return the item to the store for a refund or contact the company online for a voucher.
Affected states include:
Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.
Look for these key lot codes and/or use-by dates:
- Lot 260114 / 260114A: May 15, 2026
- Lot 260122: May 23, 2026
- Lot 260128: May 29, 2026
- Lot 260205: June 6, 2026
- Lot 260213 / 260213A: June 14, 2026
- Lot 260219 / 260219A: June 20, 2026
- Lot 260220: June 21, 2026
- Lot 260226: June 27, 2026
- Lot 260305: July 4, 2026
- Lot 260312: July 11, 2026
- Lot 260319: July 18, 2026
- Lot 260326: July 25, 2026
- Lot 260402: August 1, 2026
- Lot 260423: August 19, 2026
- Lot 260611: October
- Lot 260521
- Lot 260625
- Lot 260709
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More Sneaky Ingredients to Avoid When Eating Vegan

Avoid These Sneaky Non-Vegan Ingredients

The Farm Buzz’s earlier article, 10 Non-Vegan Food Ingredients to Avoid, highlighted ten common non-vegan ingredients that sneak into store-bought foods under unassuming names many may not recognize as non-vegan. In that piece, we learned to avoid:
- Natural flavors
- Whey
- Casein
- Carmine
- Gelatin
- Isinglass
- Tallow
- Lard
- Lecithin
- Honey
But we have barely scratched the surface. Many non-vegan ingredients hide in plain sight on food labels and in other products we may use, such as cosmetics. It can be disheartening to find that, after all the effort you have put into committing to a vegan lifestyle, you may still be unintentionally purchasing and consuming or using animal products.

Hidden Non-Vegan Ingredients to Avoid
So, in the spirit of education and becoming a more informed consumer, we have uncovered these sneaky ingredients and compiled them into an easy-to-follow list for you. Let’s dig a little deeper into the seedy world of non-vegan offenders.
Bone phosphate
Bone phosphate is made from ground-up animal bones. It is used as an anti-caking or anti-clumping agent. You may find it in powdered seasonings or dry mixes.
Beeswax
Like honey, beeswax is created by bees and is therefore not considered vegan. Beeswax is often used as a glazing agent to coat fruits to protect the surface, reduce moisture loss, and keep fruit visually appealing.
Shellac
Shellac is another glazing agent. It comes from the secretions of the lac bug. Shellac can be used to glaze sweets or serve as a wax coating for fresh produce such as lemons, limes, or oranges. Look for unwaxed or organic fruit, instead. This can also be listed as confectioner’s glaze, resinous glaze, natural glaze, or pure food glaze.
L-cysteine
L-cysteine is made from animal hair and feathers. It is sometimes used as a conditioning
agent in flour. This means it can appear in breads, pizza dough, and pastries.Lactose
Just like whey and casein, lactose is a component of milk. Companies use it as a stabilizer, filler, or sweetener. It can be found in items such as ice cream, margarine, and baked goods.
Lactilol
Lactitol is a sugar alcohol from lactose that adds sweetness to foods. Many people like it because it contains fewer calories than table sugar. It is found in sugar-free candies, gums, and chocolates. It can also be used in some baked goods or ice creams, but it is not vegan-friendly.
Lactic Acid
While many products contain lactic acid derived from plants, some may use animal-derived lactic acid instead. Lactic acid can regulate acidity or add flavor. It may appear in beverages, desserts, dressings, sauces, baked goods, and fermented foods. When purchasing items with lactic acid, look for a vegan certification on the label.
Cochineal
We discussed the ingredient carmine in our previous article. It is a food dye made from ground-up insects, specifically the cochineal insect. Cochineal is another name for carmine. If you are buying red-colored foods, look for Red Dye number 40 instead. It is vegan-friendly.
Omega-3 fatty acids
Most omega-3 fatty acids come from fish. It can be used to fortify many foods such as fruit juice, bread, yogurt, and more. Many people also take omega -3 as a dietary supplement. Look for omega-3s from algae or flaxseeds, or look for labels that say vegan.
Vitamin D3
Vitamin D3 is often obtained from fish oil or lanolin. It can be used to fortify cereals and other foods as well as in daily supplements. Look for vitamin D3 made with lichen instead. In addition, when purchasing supplements, make sure they do not contain gelatin. This sneaky ingredient regularly appears in gel caps or soft gels. Keep an eye out for products labeled vegan.
Aspic
Aspic falls under the same category as gelatin and its cohorts. It is made with clarified meat, fish stock, and gelatin. Vegans can easily avoid it because it is mainly used to coat and glaze foods like cold meats or roasted chicken.
Castoreum
Castoreum is just as disgusting as it sounds. It is an anal secretion from beavers. They use it to mark their territory. Humans, on the other hand, have used castoreum as a vanilla flavoring or in raspberry or strawberry flavorings. It has also been used in perfumes. While it’s not used as prominently today, watch for products such as vanilla extract that list castoreum or even “artificial flavoring.”
Collagen & Elastin
Collagen is like gelatin. It comes from the skin, bones, and connective tissue of animals such as cows, pigs, chickens, and fish. It is used in foods to improve the texture and maintain moisture. Collagen is also found in many cosmetic products such as moisturizers. Elastin is also in the same family as gelatin and collagen. It comes from the neck ligaments and aorta of cows. Elastin is used in the same ways as collagen.
Keratin
Keratin is akin to gelatin, collagen, and elastin. It comes from skin, bones, and connective tissues just like the others. It is often used to promote healthy hair and nails or to support wound healing. The good news is that many plants can help boost your body’s natural keratin production. Try some garlic, kale, sweet potatoes, and sunflower seeds.
Guanine
Guanine comes from scaling off dead fish. It is used in many cosmetics as a color additive or to add a shimmer or iridescent effect. You will find it in products like eye shadow, lipstick, nail polish, and shampoo.
Lanolin
This greasy, waxy substance is secreted by sheep and other woolly animals. You often find it in cosmetics to add a glossy finish or in chewing gum to make it softer. Lanolin is also a common source of vitamin D3 supplements.

Reading Labels for Vegan-Friendly Ingredients
Reading labels is always an important first step when shopping for vegan-friendly products. Skip the purchase if you see any of these ingredients listed. When in doubt, select another product or contact the manufacturer for further information. Your conscience (and the animals) will thank you.
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It’s Official, Yves Veggie Cuisine is Making a Comeback

Yves Veggie Cuisine is Returning to Shelves this Summer
(only in Canada … for now)
It’s official! Yves Veggie Cuisine is set to return to Canadian markets later this summer. That’s right. The beloved brand made an official announcement this week. Their lineup will include Veggie Deli slice Bologna, Turkey, and Ham as well as Veggie Ground Round and Mexican Veggie Ground Round.
“Last fall, we thanked you for 40 years of plant-based goodness. Today, we’re thrilled to say: Here’s to 40 more. Veggie Ground Round and Deli Slices are set to start hitting shelves again later this summer. Yves Veggie Cuisine is coming back!”
Unfortunately, the brand is not yet available in the United States and no plans have been announced as of yet. We are keeping our fingers crossed that Yves Veggie Cuisine will cross the border and once again become available in American markets.

**Updated from the original post: “Will The Beloved Yves Veggie Cuisine Make a Comeback?”**
Original Article from April 2026

Will The Beloved Yves Veggie Cuisine Make a Comeback?
Yves Veggie Cuisine was a staple in many vegan households for 40 years, until it was suddenly discontinued in 2025, leaving many plant-based consumers sad and disappointed. But good news may be on the horizon. There is some speculation that the brand will soon return. Do not celebrate just yet, though, because we are still waiting for more information. We are keeping our fingers crossed for good news.
Canadian company Maple Leaf Foods (which also owns Field Roast and Lightlife as part of their Greenleaf foods subsidiary) has recently acquired the Yves brand according to trademark filings. The acquisition was confirmed by a Canadian plant-based brand that recently met with Maple Leaf executives. Does this mean they will soon re-introduce the Yves beloved brand? We certainly hope so.

History of Yves Veggie Cuisine
Yves Potvin founded Yves Veggie Cuisine in 1985 in Vancouver. The brand was one of the first plant-based brands to hit North America and soon became a full-time addition to many families’ grocery carts.
Potvin sold Yves Veggie Cuisine to Hain Celestial Group in 2002. Hain then expanded distribution across the U.S. and Canada. Yves Veggie Cuisine was even named the “most trusted vegan brand” in Canada in 2018.
As the plant-based market shifted, however, Hain Celestial made the decision to discontinue Yves in the summer of 2025. They quietly confirmed the discontinuation through social media rather than the traditional press release. By early 2026, the beloved products were gone from store shelves.

Yves Trademark Transfer
Here is what we know.
The Canadian Intellectual Property Office recorded the transfer of the Yves trademark from Hain Celestial Canada to Maple Leaf Foods in December 2025. The transfer was officially registered on January 14, 2026. Maple Leaf then filed a second trademark application for vegan burger patties, hot dogs, bacon, sausages, and more on February 10, 2026.
Here is what we do not know.
We do not yet know Maple Leaf’s intentions for the brand or if they acquired the original recipes and methods. Some community reports hint at the return of six popular products, but that has yet to be confirmed by the company. We are also unsure if Maple Leaf will bring the brand back to the U.S. or just to its home base of Canada.

Maple Leaf Foods Acquires Yves
Maple Leaf Foods is primarily a producer of conventional meats. This may cause concern from some consumers. Their Greenleaf Foods subsidiary is responsible for the plant-based products owned by Maple Leaf, including Lightlife and Field Roast. Greenleaf distributes to Whole Foods, Sprouts, and other major retailers in the U.S. Their existing infrastructure could be the perfect conduit for returning the Yves brand.

Will Yves Return to the United States Soon?
The prospect of an Yves returning to shelves in the USA is exciting. The brand’s delicious, plant-based products have been sorely missed. While there is no confirmation that these products will once again grace store shelves in the United States, we remain ever hopeful.
Updated from the original post: “Will The Beloved Yves Veggie Cuisine Make a Comeback?” from April 29, 2026
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