As the number of many well-meaning people resolving to clean up their eating in the new year reaches a groundswell, 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 and those eating 100-percent plant-based. Unfortunately, it goes beyond recognizable 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 vegan or plant-based bandwagon this January, or any other month of the year, click through for a quick refresher of things you probably didn’t realize you can no longer eat.
Unsplash / Mae Mu
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.
Unsplash / Aleks Dorohovich
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.
Unsplash / Rodolfo Marques
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.
Getty / carolafink
French Fries
Considering fries are made from potatoes, you could be forgiven for thinking that they’re vegan. However, some companies and restaurants cook their fries in beef or duck fat, so it’s best to be wary.
Unsplash / Peter Nicola
Beer
If you’re vegan, you may need to rethink your choice of beer. In the UK, for example, The Guardian reported that many cask ales 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 address the matter on its website. Unfortunately, these tasty chocolate treats contain traces of milk, so they shouldn’t be consumed by plant-based eaters.
Unsplash / Slyvanus Urban
Candy
Like gum, when it comes to candy, you need to look out for anything made with gelatin. You should also stay away from red candies, which are often made with carmine, and anything that’s got a gloss coating, which usually contains shellac. Both ingredients are derived from insects.
Unsplash / Heather Gill
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.
Unsplash / Etienne Girardet
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 vitamin D from animals.
Unsplash / Lefteris Kallergis
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.
