A well stocked vegan pantry is full of whole foods like beans, brown rice and quinoa, as well as lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. It’s easy to fall into the processed food trap and buy lots of prepared vegan foods, but I don’t recommend it. Stick with fresh, whole foods and use processed foods sparingly, if at all.
Even processed foods that look vegan can be harboring animal based ingredients. Here is a list of things that may or may not be vegan. Check the package for an indication of the origin of questionable ingredients. When it doubt, don’t buy it!
Activated Carbon – Source: cow bones or vegetable
Albumin – Source: egg whites or animal blood
Amino Acid – Source: animal, vegetable, bacterial, fungal or synthetic
Amylase – Source: bacterial, fungal or pig
Beeswax – Source: insect
Biotin – Source: yeast, milk, egg yolk, nuts, vegetables, grain, animal
Calcium Caseinate – Source: animal milk
Calcium Stearate – Source: animal, usually cow or pig
Carmine – Source: insect
Capric Acid – Source: animal or vegetable fat
Casein – Source: animal milk
Cochineal – Source: insect
Clarifying Agent – Source: egg, animal milk, gelatin, fish or mineral
Cysteine – Source: animal and human hair
Diglyceride – Source: animal or vegetable
Disodium Inosinate – Source: animal, vegetable or fungal
Emulsifier – Source: cow, pig, egg, animal milk, vegetable
Fatty Acid – Source: cow, pig, vegetable
Folic Acid – Source: fungal, synthetic, animal or vegetable
Gelatin – Source: animal bone, cartilage, tendons and skin
Glycerides – Source: cow, pig, synthetic
Glycerols – Source: cow, pig, vegetable
Isinglass – Source: fish
Lactose – Source: animal milk
Lactic Acid – Source: animal milk, molasses, vegetables
Lanolin – Source: sheep’s wool
Lard – Source: pig
Lecithin – Source: animal, plant, egg
Lipase – Source: cow, pig, fungal
Magnesium Sterate – Source: cow, pig, mineral or vegetable
Monoclyceride – Source: animal, vegetable or synthetic
Myristic Acid – Source: animal and vegetable fat
Oleic Acid – Source: animal tallow, vegetable fat, oil
Palmitic Acid – Source: cow, pig or vegetable fat
Pancreatin – Source: cow and pig digestive enzymes
Pepsin – Source: pig stomachs
Propolis – Source: bees
Processing Agent – Source: egg, animal milk, cow, pig, vegetable, mineral, synthetic
Protease – Source: animal, vegetable, bacterial, fungal
Rennet – Source: cows’ stomachs, plants, bacteria, mold
Royal Jelly – Source: insect
Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate – Source: animal milk, vegetable, milk
Stearic Acid – Source: animal fat, vegetable
Suet – Source: cow and sheep fat
Surface - Active Agents – Source: animal, vegetable or synthetic
Tallow – Source: sheep and cow fat
Tripsin – Source: cow or pig digestive enzyme
Tyrosine – Source: poultry feathers
Vitamin A – Source: vegetable, synthetic, egg yolks, fish oil
Vitamin D – Source: sheep’s wool, fish, fungal
Whey – Source: cheese and cows’ milk
For a complete list of animal based ingredients, I recommend Animal Ingredients A to Z.
