A Vegan's Guide: What apple juice is vegan?

November 11, 2025 •

4 min read

While apples are a naturally vegan food, the processing of store-bought apple juice can involve animal products. This makes asking what apple juice is vegan? a critical step for those following a plant-based lifestyle, as non-vegan additives can find their way into even the most seemingly innocent beverages. For example, clarifying agents derived from fish or animal bones are sometimes used to create a crystal-clear juice.

Quick Summary

Not all commercially produced apple juice is vegan, with some brands using animal-derived fining agents like gelatin or isinglass for clarification. Added vitamins or certain dyes can also be sourced from animals. Naturally cloudy juices and those with vegan certifications are typically safe, while reading labels for suspicious ingredients is crucial.

Key Points

Clarification is Key: The process for creating clear apple juice often uses animal-derived fining agents like gelatin or isinglass, which come from animal bones and fish bladders.
Naturally Cloudy is Safer: For a lower risk of non-vegan ingredients, choose naturally cloudy or unfiltered apple juice, as it bypasses the clarification process entirely.
Check for Certifications: The most reliable way to find vegan apple juice is to look for an official vegan certification label on the bottle.
Beware of Hidden Additives: Fortified juices may contain non-vegan Vitamin D3 (from sheep's wool) or Omega-3 (from fish oil), while some red dyes (carmine) and sugar (bone char refined) can also be animal-derived.
Examine the Ingredients: Always read the ingredient list carefully, especially for juice blends, and look for specific indicators or avoid products with vague wording like "natural flavors".
Make It at Home: The only guaranteed vegan apple juice is homemade, using fresh, unwaxed apples.

Why Most Apple Juice Appears Vegan but Isn't Always

At its core, apple juice is simply pressed apples and is inherently vegan. The surprise comes in the production process, particularly when it comes to creating the clear, transparent juice that many consumers prefer. The issue lies in the use of "fining agents," which are additives used to remove impurities and sediment from the juice. For many commercial juices, these agents are derived from animals.

Common Non-Vegan Clarifying Agents

Gelatin: This protein is sourced from animal collagen, typically from the bones and connective tissues of pigs and cows. It is added to the juice to bind with cloudy particles, which are then filtered out. While the gelatin is mostly removed, trace amounts may remain, making the final product non-vegan.
Isinglass: Known as "fish glue," isinglass comes from the swim bladders of fish. Like gelatin, it helps clarify the liquid by causing impurities to clump and settle, allowing for a clearer final product.

Other Hidden Animal-Derived Ingredients to Consider

Beyond the clarification process, vegans must also be vigilant about other potential non-vegan additives. These can be particularly sneaky as they are not always disclosed clearly on the label, or their source is obscure.

Fortified Vitamins: Some juices are fortified with vitamins like D3 and omega-3 fatty acids to enhance their nutritional profile. However, Vitamin D3 can be derived from lanolin (sheep's wool) and omega-3 is often sourced from fish oil. Vegan-friendly alternatives exist, but manufacturers must be contacted to confirm the source.
Added Colors: While less common in 100% pure apple juice, juice blends or apple-flavored drinks can contain artificial colors. A specific concern is carmine (or cochineal extract), a red dye made from crushed insects. It's sometimes listed as E120.
Sugar: Some white sugar is bleached using bone char (charred animal bones) to achieve its white color. If cane sugar is an ingredient, a vegan must check with the manufacturer or choose products certified as vegan to avoid this.
Waxes: The apples used for juicing may be coated with non-vegan waxes like beeswax or shellac (from lac bugs) before processing. For homemade juice, it is important to find unwaxed apples.

How to Find Vegan-Friendly Apple Juice

For vegans, navigating the juice aisle requires a conscious effort. The most reliable method is to look for official vegan certifications, such as the V-Label or similar stamps, which guarantee no animal products were used in the entire production chain. For uncertified juices, there are still ways to make an informed choice.

Naturally Cloudy Juice: This is often the safest choice for clear apple juice. Naturally cloudy or unfiltered juices retain their pulp and sediment, meaning they have not undergone a clarification process using fining agents. The juice appears opaque and can sometimes have a richer flavor.

Ingredient Check: Always check the ingredient list for potential non-vegan items. This includes looking for added vitamins like D3 and Omega-3, or for the red dye carmine. Also, be wary of ambiguous terms like "natural flavors" without further information.

Research Brands: Some brands, like Pomona Organic, Kohl Mountain, and Tree Top's Pure Pressed lines, are either explicitly vegan-friendly or use vegan-friendly processing methods. However, it is important to remember that not all products from a brand may be vegan, so check each label.

Homemade Juice: The only way to have 100% control over the entire process is to make your own juice at home. Simply use fresh, unwaxed, and organic apples for the most ethical and delicious result.

Comparing Clarified vs. Cloudy Apple Juice


Feature	Clarified Apple Juice	Naturally Cloudy Apple Juice
Vegan Status	Uncertain; often clarified with non-vegan fining agents like gelatin or isinglass.	Generally Vegan; avoids the clarification process, eliminating the risk from fining agents.
Appearance	Transparent and clear.	Opaque with visible pulp and sediment.
Processing Method	Requires a fining process to remove cloudiness and particulates.	Typically only pressed and pasteurized, or unpasteurized; no fining agents used.
Taste & Texture	Lighter in taste and smoother texture.	Richer, fuller apple flavor with a thicker texture.
Risk of Animal Products	High, especially if not certified vegan.	Very low, unless non-vegan additives are specifically added later in production (less common).

Conclusion: Making Informed Choices

While the sight of a crisp, clear apple juice is appealing, it's a visual cue that can hide a non-vegan processing step. For those on a vegan diet, the key is to move beyond assumptions and become a diligent label reader. Opting for naturally cloudy varieties, looking for transparent brands with vegan certifications, or simply making juice at home are the best ways to ensure your drink aligns with your values. By understanding the manufacturing process and potential additives, you can confidently answer the question, "What apple juice is vegan?" and enjoy a truly cruelty-free beverage.

For more information on the processing of fruit juices and additives, see the technical article on plant-based fining agents by filtration company Eaton: Clear apple and red grape juice thanks to plant-based fining agent ....

Frequently Asked Questions

Not all apple juice is vegan because some manufacturers use animal-derived fining agents, such as gelatin or isinglass, during the clarification process to make the juice appear clear.

Clear apple juice is filtered and often clarified with animal products, making its vegan status uncertain. Cloudy or unfiltered apple juice is generally safer as it does not undergo this clarification process.

Yes, aside from fining agents, some juices may contain non-vegan ingredients like Vitamin D3 (from lanolin), Omega-3 (from fish oil), or red food coloring (carmine, E120).

If there is no vegan label, look for naturally cloudy or unfiltered varieties. You can also check the ingredient list for potential non-vegan additives and contact the manufacturer to confirm sourcing methods.

Apple juice concentrate itself is vegan. However, the final product created from the concentrate may not be, depending on any further processing or additives used by the company.

Yes, some apples are coated in beeswax or shellac (from insects), which are not vegan. For homemade juice, it is best to use unwaxed or organically grown apples.

Yes, making your own apple juice from scratch using fresh apples is the only way to have complete control over all ingredients and ensure the product is 100% vegan.

Brands like Pomona Organic, Kohl Mountain, and Tree Top's Pure Pressed lines are often considered vegan-friendly, but you should always check the specific product label or look for vegan certification.