Processed

While the core ingredients of beer (water, malted barley/wheat, hops, and yeast) are 100% plant- and fungal-derived, some traditional breweries clarify beer using animal-derived fining agents like isinglass (fish bladder collagen) or gelatin. Additionally, milk stouts and pastry sours contain lactose (milk sugar).

Traditional breads are fundamentally vegan, requiring only flour, water, yeast, and salt. However, enriched or ultra-processed commercial sliced loaves often incorporate non-vegan ingredients such as milk solids, whey, butter, honey, eggs, or dough conditioners like L-cysteine (E920) and animal-derived mono- and diglycerides (E471).

Carrageenan is a family of natural linear sulfated polysaccharides extracted from red edible seaweeds (Rhodophyta). 100% plant/marine-algae derived.

High-quality dark chocolate contains only cocoa mass, cocoa butter, sugar, and vanilla. However, some manufacturers add milk fat, butter oil, or whey.

Glycerine (glycerol / E422) is a simple triol compound produced during the saponification or hydrolysis of triglycerides. Commercially, it can be manufactured from plant oils (soy, palm, coconut, or rapeseed) or recovered as a byproduct of rendering animal carcass tallow. Unless specified as 'vegetable glycerine' or certified vegan, source verification is required.

Guar gum is extracted from the ground endosperm of the guar bean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba). 100% plant-based thickening and stabilizing agent.

L-Cysteine (E920/E921) is a semi-essential amino acid used as an industrial dough conditioner to relax gluten networks. Historically and commercially, the majority of global L-cysteine is extracted through acid hydrolysis of duck and poultry feathers or hog hair from slaughterhouses. Although modern microbial fermentation (bacterial biosynthesis) and synthetic routes exist, food ingredient labels almost never disclose the raw biological source without third-party vegan certification.

Traditional commercial marshmallows are made with animal gelatin (derived from pig and cattle skin and bones) to achieve their signature squishy, chewy texture. They are not vegan.

E471 emulsifiers can be synthesized from plant oils (soy, palm, sunflower) or animal fats (tallow, lard). Unless specified as vegetable-derived, source is ambiguous.

Original Ferrero Nutella is NOT vegan because it contains skimmed cow's milk powder (8.7%) and dairy whey powder. Vegan hazelnut cocoa spreads made with dark chocolate, hazelnut butter, and plant milk are widely available.

Botanically, palm oil is 100% plant-based, pressed from the red fruit pulp and kernels of oil palms (Elaeis guineensis). It contains zero animal ingredients, though many vegans avoid it due to deforestation and habitat destruction.

Traditional Genoese pesto is NOT vegan because it contains Parmigiano-Reggiano or Pecorino Romano cheese made with animal rennet (stomach enzymes of calves). Vegan pesto replaces cheese with nutritional yeast and cashews or pine nuts.

Red 40 (Allura Red AC / E129) is a synthetic azo dye manufactured from petroleum distillates and coal tar. It contains NO animal ingredients and is NOT made from crushed insects (which is Carmine / E120).

Traditional black tapioca pearls (boba) are made from 100% plant-based cassava root starch (tapioca), water, and dark brown sugar or caramel coloring. They contain no gelatin or dairy.

Some refined cane sugar is decolorized using cattle bone char filters. Beet sugar and unrefined/organic cane sugar are never processed with bone char.

Although wine is fundamentally produced from crushed and fermented grapes (Vitis vinifera), many winemakers use animal-derived fining agents during the clarification and stabilization process to precipitate harsh tannins, hazes, and dead yeast cells. Traditional finings include egg white albumen, milk casein, animal gelatin, and fish isinglass. However, un-fined natural wines and modern winemakers utilizing bentonite clay, pea protein, or sterile cross-flow ceramic membranes produce 100% vegan wines.

Traditional Worcestershire sauce is NOT vegan because it contains fermented anchovies (fish). However, certified vegan Worcestershire sauces made with soy sauce, tamarind, and apple cider vinegar are widely available.

Xanthan gum is a natural polysaccharide produced through the fermentation of glucose or sucrose by the bacterium Xanthomonas campestris. 100% vegan.