What Do Strict Vegans Not Eat? A Comprehensive Guide

November 25, 2025 •

4 min read

According to a 2024 study, ethical concerns are the primary motivation for over 50% of vegans, driving them to avoid all forms of animal exploitation. This commitment means strict vegans do not eat not only meat and dairy but also a host of other animal by-products often found in everyday food items.

Quick Summary

A strict vegan diet eliminates all animal products and by-products, including meat, fish, dairy, eggs, and honey. It also requires vigilance against hidden animal-derived ingredients like gelatin, carmine, and certain additives in processed foods, alcohol, and baked goods.

Key Points

No Meat or Fish: Strict vegans avoid all animal flesh, including beef, pork, chicken, and seafood, as well as products like lard or bone broth.
No Dairy or Eggs: All animal-derived dairy products (milk, cheese, butter) and eggs are strictly excluded due to ethical concerns about animal exploitation.
No Honey or Insect Products: Honey is off-limits as it is produced by bees. Other insect-derived products like shellac and carmine are also avoided.
Watch for Hidden Ingredients: Many processed foods and alcoholic beverages contain animal-derived ingredients like gelatin, isinglass, and vitamin D3 from lanolin, which must be identified and avoided.
Scrutinize Processing Methods: Strict vegans check how products like sugar are refined, as bone char is sometimes used in the process, making it non-vegan.

Veganism, at its core, is a philosophy and way of living that seeks to exclude—as far as possible and practicable—all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals. While most people understand that this means no meat or dairy, a strict interpretation extends to many less obvious animal-derived ingredients. This comprehensive guide details the wide range of products strict vegans do not eat.

The Obvious Exclusions: Meat, Fish, and Fowl

For a strict vegan, the avoidance of meat and fish is foundational. This includes all flesh from land animals and seafood. While a vegetarian might eat fish (pescetarian) or fowl (pollotarian), a vegan's plate is strictly plant-based. This means no beef, pork, chicken, lamb, turkey, and also no tuna, salmon, shrimp, lobster, or any other aquatic life. This extends to any products where meat is a core component, such as gelatin-based broths or gravies that use animal fat.

The Dairy and Egg Dilemma

Beyond meat, strict vegans also eliminate all dairy products and eggs from their diets. Dairy products are derived from animal milk, and their production often involves the exploitation of animals. Eggs, produced by chickens, are also off-limits for the same ethical reasons.

Products to avoid:

Dairy: Cow's milk, cheese, butter, yogurt, sour cream, and ice cream. This includes hidden forms like whey or casein in processed foods.
Eggs: Whole eggs and any products containing them, such as mayonnaise, some baked goods, and certain dressings.

The Case Against Bees: Honey and Beyond

Strict veganism extends its ethical considerations to insects. As honey is produced by bees, it is considered an animal product and is therefore avoided. Vegans substitute honey with plant-based sweeteners like maple syrup, agave nectar, or molasses. This philosophy can also impact other insect-derived products, such as shellac, a resin secreted by the female lac bug, often used as a glaze on candies and fruits.

The Not-So-Obvious: Hidden Animal Ingredients

One of the most challenging aspects of strict veganism is identifying and avoiding hidden animal ingredients in processed foods. Many products contain animal derivatives that are not immediately obvious from the name. Checking labels and researching ingredients is a crucial skill for strict vegans.

Common hidden ingredients:

Gelatin: Derived from the collagen of animal bones, hides, and skins, gelatin is used to thicken and stabilize products like marshmallows, gummy candies, and some desserts.
Carmine: A red food coloring derived from cochineal scale insects, often found in red-colored drinks, candies, and cosmetics.
Isinglass: A type of gelatin obtained from fish bladders, used in the fining process for some beers and wines.
Whey and Casein: Milk proteins found in many processed foods, including bread, crackers, and snacks.
L-Cysteine: An amino acid used as a dough conditioner, which can be derived from poultry feathers.
Vitamin D3: Often sourced from lanolin (sheep's wool), this is commonly added to fortified cereals and plant milks.

Vegan vs. Vegetarian: A Comparative Table

To illustrate the distinctions, here is a comparison of dietary inclusions and exclusions for vegetarians and strict vegans:


Food Group	Vegetarian Diet	Strict Vegan Diet
Meat (Red & White)	Excludes	Excludes
Fish & Seafood	Excludes (unless pescetarian)	Excludes
Dairy Products	Includes (milk, cheese, etc.)	Excludes
Eggs	Includes	Excludes
Honey	Includes	Excludes
Gelatin	Excludes (due to animal collagen)	Excludes
Hidden Ingredients	May include depending on interpretation	Excludes strictly

The Fine Print: Processed Foods and Alcohol

Even staple processed foods and beverages require scrutiny. For example, some white sugar is processed with bone char, a type of charcoal made from animal bones. While the char does not end up in the final product, its use in the process makes the sugar non-vegan for strict adherents. Similarly, many alcoholic beverages are not vegan due to the use of animal products like isinglass or gelatin in their clarification and filtration processes. Websites like Barnivore can help identify vegan-friendly alcoholic options.

The Vegan Pantry: What They Do Eat

Far from being limited, a strict vegan diet includes a vast array of plant-based foods. The focus shifts to nutrient-dense, plant-based alternatives to ensure a balanced diet. Protein can be sourced from tofu, tempeh, lentils, beans, and seitan. Plant-based milks from soy, almond, and oat offer alternatives to dairy, while nuts, seeds, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains form the core of a nutritious vegan diet. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics recognizes that well-planned vegan diets are appropriate for all stages of life.

Conclusion

In summary, the question of what strict vegans not eat extends far beyond the basic elimination of meat and dairy. It involves a meticulous examination of all food and drink for any trace of animal exploitation, including honey, hidden additives, and processing aids. This commitment to an animal-product-free lifestyle requires careful label reading and a mindful approach to consumption, ultimately leading to a diet that is entirely plant-based. By understanding these nuances, one can appreciate the full scope of a truly strict vegan diet.

Frequently Asked Questions

The main difference is that a vegetarian abstains from meat, fish, and poultry but may consume animal by-products like dairy and eggs. A strict vegan excludes all animal products and by-products, including dairy, eggs, and honey.

Strict vegans avoid honey because it is a product of bees, and their philosophy extends to avoiding all forms of animal and insect exploitation. Honey production involves commercial practices that are deemed unethical.

Surprising non-vegan ingredients include gelatin (in marshmallows and gummy candies), carmine (red food dye), isinglass (used to clarify some beer and wine), and certain forms of vitamin D3 derived from lanolin.

No, not all bread is vegan. Some bread products may contain eggs, milk, or ingredients like L-cysteine, an amino acid sometimes derived from poultry feathers.

Strict vegans can obtain all necessary nutrients through a well-planned diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and legumes. Nutrients like Vitamin B12 often require fortified foods or supplementation.

It depends on the specific alcohol. Some beers, wines, and ciders are clarified using animal products like isinglass or gelatin. Strict vegans must check the clarification process or use resources like Barnivore to find vegan-friendly options.

Some strict vegans avoid refined white sugar because it can be processed using bone char. They opt for organic or unrefined sugar alternatives like maple syrup or agave.

Yes, avocados and almonds are vegan. Concerns arise from the use of migratory beekeeping for pollination, which some highly-ethically motivated vegans may find problematic, but the plants themselves are products of the earth, not animals.