What brands of sriracha are vegan?

November 25, 2025 •

4 min read

While many believe sriracha is always vegan, the truth is more complex, with some brands historically using animal byproducts in their processing. Knowing what brands of sriracha are vegan requires checking ingredients and being aware of manufacturing practices that can compromise a plant-based diet.

Quick Summary

This guide outlines specific sriracha brands that are explicitly vegan and identifies potential non-vegan ingredients to avoid. It addresses the manufacturing processes that can affect a sauce's vegan status, helping you find a safe option.

Key Points

Check the Ingredients: While most sriracha ingredients are plant-based, some brands include fish sauce or use sugar filtered with bone char, which is not vegan.
Huy Fong's Ambiguity: The popular Huy Fong 'rooster sauce' has historically been considered non-vegan due to its sugar processing but now uses vegan-friendly suppliers; however, it is not officially labeled vegan.
Explicitly Vegan Brands: For guaranteed vegan sriracha, opt for brands like Flying Goose, Yellowbird Organic, Sky Valley Foods, Ninja Squirrel, or Tabasco's sriracha offering.
Beware of Fish: Always read the ingredients list to ensure no fish sauce, anchovy extract, or other non-vegan flavorings have been added.
Vegan Sriracha Mayo: Be cautious with creamy versions, as they may contain eggs or other non-vegan ingredients; stick to clearly labeled vegan options like the Flying Goose vegan mayo.
Easy Verification: The simplest way to confirm a sriracha is vegan is to look for a certified vegan label on the packaging.

The Surprising Truth About Sriracha and Veganism

At its core, traditional sriracha is a straightforward combination of chili peppers, vinegar, garlic, sugar, and salt. All of these ingredients are plant-based. However, the modern food industry and manufacturing processes have complicated matters for vegans. The primary issues that can make a brand of sriracha non-vegan are the refining process of sugar and the occasional inclusion of animal-derived ingredients, such as fish sauce.

Why Sugar Isn't Always Vegan

In the United States, much of the refined cane sugar is processed using bone char, which is charcoal made from the charred bones of cattle. The bone char acts as a decolorizing filter, but leaves no trace in the final product. While the final sugar is not made from animals, the process is not vegan-friendly. Not all sugar is processed this way; alternatives like sugar beet or organic cane sugar are bone-char-free. Because of this, unless a company explicitly states their sugar is vegan, or they use organic sugar, its status can be questionable.

The Case of Huy Fong (Rooster Sauce)

For many years, the iconic green-capped Huy Fong "rooster sauce" was not considered vegan because its sugar supplier utilized bone char in the refining process. While a 2022 survey of ingredient suppliers confirmed they no longer use animal byproducts, the company refrains from explicitly labeling its products as vegan. This leaves the final decision up to the consumer, but many long-time vegans remain cautious due to the company's past practices and its hesitation to claim the vegan label.

A Guide to Confirmed Vegan Sriracha Brands

Fortunately, for those seeking a definitively vegan sriracha, there are several brands that are open about their vegan status. These brands use vegan-friendly sugar and avoid any animal-derived ingredients.

Flying Goose Sriracha

This Thai brand is widely available and confirms that its flagship sriracha sauces are vegan. The company states there are no animal products in any of its hot sauces, which are available in many flavors. However, be mindful that Flying Goose also offers a vegan Sriracha Mayo, but some of their other mayo-based options may not be vegan, so always check the specific product label.

Yellowbird Organic Sriracha

Yellowbird is a company known for its clean ingredients. Their Organic Sriracha is certified vegan, using bone char-free cane sugar and other high-quality organic ingredients. This is a great option for those who want to be certain of their ingredients and enjoy an organic, plant-based hot sauce.

Tabasco Sriracha Sauce

Tabasco produces a variety of hot sauces, and their Sriracha Sauce is non-GMO, gluten-free, and proudly labeled as vegan and vegetarian-friendly. This is a reliable and easy-to-find option for a vegan-friendly sriracha.

Sky Valley Foods by Organicville Sriracha

Another reliably vegan brand, Sky Valley's sriracha is made with organic ingredients and is certified gluten-free and vegan. The company offers a classic sriracha and a green sriracha, both of which are safe for a plant-based diet.

Ninja Squirrel Sriracha

Known for its playful name and clear vegan labeling, Ninja Squirrel sriracha is a popular choice among those following a plant-based diet. Its ingredients are straightforward and all plant-based, making it a safe and spicy option.

Lee Kum Kee Sriracha Chili Sauce

While older versions of Lee Kum Kee's sriracha once contained anchovies, the company now offers a vegan, fish-free version. It is crucial to read the label carefully to ensure you are purchasing the current, vegan formulation, as older non-vegan stock may still be in circulation. PETA's Guide to Vegan Condiments

Vegan Sriracha Comparison Table


Brand	Vegan Status	Key Features	Potential Caution	Where to Find
Huy Fong	Historically non-vegan due to sugar; now says suppliers are bone-char-free but not labeled vegan	Most common brand, iconic flavor	Not explicitly labeled vegan	Most supermarkets, big box stores
Flying Goose	Explicitly Vegan	Range of flavors, authentic Thai heritage	Some mayo products are also vegan, but always double-check	International food markets, specialty stores
Yellowbird	Certified Vegan	Organic ingredients, high-quality	May have a slightly different flavor profile than Huy Fong	Whole Foods, natural grocers, online
Tabasco	Explicitly Vegan	Non-GMO, gluten-free	Flavor may differ from traditional sriracha	Most supermarkets, convenience stores
Sky Valley	Certified Vegan	Organic, gluten-free	May be less spicy than other brands	Natural grocers, health food stores, online
Ninja Squirrel	Explicitly Vegan	Clear labeling, fun branding	May be harder to find than bigger brands	Specialty stores, online retailers
Lee Kum Kee	Vegan version available (check label)	Widespread availability, consistent taste	Historically contained anchovies; verify the 'vegan' claim	Most supermarkets, Asian food markets

Conclusion: Making a Spicy, Vegan-Friendly Choice

The quest for a vegan-friendly sriracha highlights the importance of reading labels and understanding ingredient sourcing. While the classic Huy Fong has a complicated past, there are many excellent and explicitly vegan sriracha brands readily available. By opting for brands like Flying Goose, Yellowbird, or Tabasco Sriracha, vegans can confidently add that spicy, tangy kick to their meals without compromising their values. As always, a quick check of the ingredient list and a look for a certified vegan label will ensure your sriracha is cruelty-free and delicious.

Frequently Asked Questions

Historically, Huy Fong was not considered vegan due to its use of sugar filtered with bone char. While they now claim their suppliers are bone char-free, they do not explicitly label their product as vegan, leaving some doubt for strict vegans.

Traditional sriracha does not contain fish sauce, but some brands have added it for flavor. A notable example is older versions of Lee Kum Kee, which once contained anchovies but now have a vegan alternative. Always check the label to be sure.

In the United States, some cane sugar is refined using bone char, which is a charcoal derived from animal bones. This makes the refining process non-vegan, even though the final sugar product does not contain any bone particles.

Yes, Flying Goose has confirmed that its classic sriracha sauces are vegan, with no animal products used in their hot sauce formulations. They also offer a vegan sriracha mayo.

No. Older formulations of Lee Kum Kee's sriracha contained anchovies. The company has since released a vegan-friendly version, but it is crucial to read the label to ensure you are buying the correct formulation.

The most reliable way is to look for a certified vegan label on the bottle. If that's not present, check the ingredients list for non-vegan items like fish sauce, shrimp paste, or honey, and seek confirmation that the sugar is processed without bone char.

Yellowbird Organic Sriracha is a highly-regarded brand that is certified vegan. They use organic, bone char-free cane sugar and other high-quality organic ingredients.