Great question! 🌱 If you’re living that vegan life, here’s a quick guide to foods you’ll want to avoid—not just the obvious ones like meat and dairy, but also some sneaky animal-based ingredients that love to hide in labels.
❌ Meat & Poultry
- Beef, pork, chicken, lamb, turkey, etc.
- Game meats like venison or duck
❌ Fish & Seafood
- Salmon, tuna, shrimp, crab, scallops, anchovies, etc.
- Fish sauce or oyster sauce (watch out in Asian cuisine)
❌ Dairy Products
- Milk, cheese, butter, cream, yogurt, ghee
- Whey and casein (often found in protein bars and snacks)
❌ Eggs
- Chicken, duck, and quail eggs
- Egg whites or powdered eggs (hidden in some baked goods)
❌ Honey & Bee Products
- Honey, beeswax (in candy and skincare), royal jelly, propolis
🧐 Sneaky Ingredients to Watch Out For
These can be hidden in processed foods, supplements, or even cosmetics:
| Ingredient | Why It’s Not Vegan |
|---|---|
| Gelatin | Made from animal bones and skin (in gummies, marshmallows, Jell-O) |
| Carmine (or cochineal) | Red dye from crushed beetles |
| Shellac | In shiny candy coatings (from lac bugs) |
| Lard or Suet | Rendered fat from pigs or cows (often in pie crusts) |
| Isinglass | Fish bladder, used in some beers and wines |
| Rennet | Enzyme from calf stomach (used in some cheeses) |
| Casein / Lactose | Milk derivatives found in “non-dairy” products sometimes |
| Vitamin D3 (from lanolin) | Some fortified cereals or supplements |
| Omega-3s (from fish oil) | Found in some fortified milks and vitamins |
🍷 Bonus: Watch out for…
- Alcohol – Some wines and beers are filtered using animal products like isinglass, egg whites, or gelatin. Look for vegan-certified alcohol or check on Barnivore.com.
- White sugar (in some countries) – May be filtered through bone char (charred animal bones). Opt for organic, raw, or vegan-labeled sugar.
