The FARM BuzzAvoid 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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