When you first go vegan, you probably think of cutting out meat, dairy products, eggs and maybe honey.
Those are the big culprits, but there are lots of other non-vegan ingredients that sneak their way into foods. For example, gelatin is found in most marshmallows and gummies, and many Asian dishes at restaurants contain fish sauce. I’ve been vegetarian for 14 years and mainly vegan for the past two, and I still make mistakes!
There are controversies in the vegan community about what foods count as vegan. For example, some people say that refined white sugar is not vegan if it’s been filtered with bone char, and there’s debate about whether honey is vegan.
I won’t get into those arguments today. According to the Vegan Society, “Veganism is a philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude—as far as is possible and practicable—all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose; and by extension, promotes the development and use of animal-free alternatives for the benefit of animals, humans and the environment. In dietary terms it denotes the practice of dispensing with all products derived wholly or partly from animals.”
It’s worth noting that veganism also extends to other lifestyle areas, like clothes and beauty products. However, today I’ll be focusing on food!
Without further ado, here are some surprising foods that aren’t (always) vegan! When in doubt, read the label or ingredients list.
Alcohol
Alcohol is traditionally made from plant-based ingredients like rye, potatoes or grapes. However, it’s often filtered using animal by-products like fish bladders, egg whites or gelatin. Some types of alcohol are also mixed with non-vegan ingredients like dairy or honey. To find out whether your favourite alcohol is vegan, consult Barnivore.
Baked beans
You may think they’re just beans, but many brands of baked beans also contain lard (pig fat) or chunks of meat. There are some vegan options, though!
Barbecue sauce
Barbecue sauce is often basted on meat (as well as vegetables and meat alternatives), but did you know that the sauce itself sometimes contains meat? Not to mention honey.
Bread and bread products
Your basic grocery store sliced bread is generally vegan (though it’s always good to confirm). However, fancier breads may contain dairy or an egg wash.
Caramel
Caramel is typically made by boiling sugar, but many recipes call for adding cream and/or butter. It is possible to make your own vegan caramel!
Cereal
Much of the cereal you buy at the store is full of carbs and sugar. It may also contain dairy or honey. This is another case where it pays to read the ingredients list!
Chocolate
Unsurprisingly, milk chocolate is not vegan—nor is white chocolate. You’d expect dark chocolate to be vegan, but some brands contain milk. You can find vegan dark chocolate, though! There are also chocolate bars that are branded as vegan, but these are often more expensive.
Crackers
Crackers are similar to bread in terms of being made mainly of carbs. However, some brands contain milk, so make sure to check.
Graham crackers
If you’re avoiding honey, it’s a classic ingredient in graham crackers. To make vegan s’mores, try using vegan cookies instead!
Granola bars
Granola bars are a minefield for vegans. They may contain marshmallows (more on that below), milk and/or honey. Thankfully, there are a few vegan granola bar options!
Gummies
Gummy candies and vitamins are not normally vegan since they contain gelatin, which is made from animals’ skin, bones, cartilage or tendons. If you look hard enough, you may find some vegan gummies, though!
Horchata
Horchata is a Mexican creamy drink traditionally made from rice, water, cinnamon, sugar and vanilla. However, some brands and restaurants add milk, so double-check.
Hot chocolate powder
The instructions for hot chocolate powder often say to add (non-dairy) milk, but did you know that the powder itself sometimes contains milk or even marshmallows?
Icing
Icing, whether homemade or store-bought, often contains butter and milk. Some forms of buttercream also contain eggs.
Jell-O
The packaged Jell-O that you buy at the store generally contains gelatin.
Kimchi
This Korean staple is made of fermented cabbage and other vegetables. Surprisingly, kimchi is often flavoured with fermented seafood, such as fish sauce or salted shrimp. There are some vegan kimchi brands, though!
Margarine
You may think of margarine as butter’s dairy-free, oil-based, spreadable cousin. However, some brands add milk, so be sure to check the ingredient list!
Marshmallows
Like gummy candies and Jell-O, marshmallows are traditionally made using gelatin. There are vegan alternatives, including Dandies brand!
Mousse
Depending on the recipe, mousse may contain gelatin, dairy or eggs. If you must get your mousse fix, try making your own vegan version!
Pasta
Some brands of (dried or fresh) pasta contain eggs or even unusual ingredients like squid ink, so it’s another case where it’s smart to read the ingredients!
Potato chips
Some chip flavours are obviously not vegan—think Cheetos or sour cream and onion. However, did you know that salt and vinegar chips often contain dairy? Some other flavours may contain non-vegan ingredients as well. When in doubt, check the label!
Soup
Soup is sometimes made with meat broth. Some flavours also contain dairy or chunks of meat. It’s always good to confirm (or make your own), since you never know what’s hiding in that soup!
Vitamins
Besides gummy-style vitamins, many vitamins in pill or capsule format contain gelatin. Check the ingredients carefully or ask the company since some brands use vegan alternatives!
Worcestershire sauce
Worcestershire sauce (pronounced Wooster) is a strong-flavoured sauce sometimes added to meat dishes, stews, drinks and more. It’s traditionally made with anchovies, but there are vegan options!
Surprising foods that aren’t (always) vegan
There are a surprising number of foods that aren’t always vegan. Especially when you’re first starting out, it’s a good idea to check the ingredients list or ask the company if you’re not sure. As you get further along, you’ll get a better sense of which foods are normally vegan or not vegan.
At the end of the day, it’s not about being perfect—it’s about doing your best!
I want to know: Which non-vegan food surprised you the most? Are there any foods that I forgot to include?
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