What Not to Eat in a Vegan Diet: Your Essential Guide

November 10, 2025 •

4 min read

Over 79 million people worldwide have adopted a vegan lifestyle, but avoiding animal products isn't always as simple as skipping meat and dairy. Navigating processed foods can be tricky due to numerous hidden ingredients and deceptive labels that can accidentally cause you to eat things you shouldn't in a vegan diet.

Quick Summary

This guide reveals surprising non-vegan ingredients hiding in common foods, additives, and beverages. Learn to identify animal-derived components like gelatin, casein, and carmine, and understand labeling nuances to confidently avoid them.

Key Points

Hidden Ingredients: Many processed foods, candies, and baked goods contain hidden animal products like gelatin (from bones) or casein and whey (milk proteins).
Deceptive Labels: Terms like "plant-based" or "non-dairy" don't always guarantee a product is fully vegan; always read the full ingredient list.
Insect-Derived Dyes: Watch out for carmine (E120), a red food coloring made from crushed insects, commonly found in candies and drinks.
Non-Vegan Beverages: Some beers and wines use animal-derived fining agents like isinglass (from fish bladders) or gelatin for clarification.
Processing Aids: Ingredients like bone char (in refined white sugar) and L-cysteine (in bread) may be derived from animals but not always explicitly labeled as such.
Know Your E Numbers: Familiarize yourself with E numbers, as some, like E441 (gelatin), indicate animal-derived ingredients.

Obvious Animal-Based Foods to Avoid

While the core principle of a vegan diet is straightforward—avoiding animal products—it's helpful to explicitly list the most obvious items that must be excluded. This forms the foundational understanding for anyone new to veganism.

Meat and Poultry: This includes all types of animal flesh, such as beef, pork, lamb, veal, chicken, turkey, and game meat.
Fish and Seafood: All aquatic animals, including fish, shrimp, crab, lobster, mussels, and fish sauce, are off-limits.
Dairy Products: Any food derived from animal milk, such as milk, cheese, butter, yogurt, and ice cream, must be avoided.
Eggs: This includes eggs from chickens, quails, or any other bird.
Bee Products: Honey, bee pollen, and royal jelly, which are produced by bees, are typically excluded from a vegan diet.

Unmasking Hidden Animal-Derived Ingredients

Navigating the world of processed foods requires a keen eye. Many seemingly vegan products contain animal derivatives used as flavorings, stabilizers, or colorings. Here's what to look out for on ingredient lists.

Gelatin: Not Just for Jello

Gelatin is a protein derived from boiling the skin, tendons, ligaments, and bones of animals, primarily cows and pigs. It's a common thickening and gelling agent found in more than just gelatin desserts. It can be found in gummy candies, marshmallows, chewy vitamins, and some frostings. Agar-agar, a seaweed-based alternative, is a common vegan substitute.

Dairy Derivatives: Sneaky Milk Proteins

Even products labeled as "non-dairy" can contain milk proteins. Watch for these common culprits:

Casein/Caseinate: A milk protein found in some packaged snacks, protein powders, and "non-dairy" coffee creamers.
Whey: The watery part of milk left over after the cheese-making process. Whey powder is often used in baked goods, protein shakes, and packaged foods.
Lactose: The sugar found in milk, often used as a filler in various foods and supplements.

The Bug in Your Candy: Carmine

Carmine, also known as cochineal extract or natural red 4, is a vibrant red dye made from crushed cochineal insects. It's used to color a variety of food and drinks, including red candies, some yogurts, and juices. Always check the ingredient list for this insect-derived coloring.

Unexpected Additives and Processing Aids

Some non-vegan components are used during the manufacturing process and may not even appear in the final product's ingredient list.

Isinglass: A gelatin-like substance from fish bladders, isinglass is often used to clarify or "fine" certain beers and wines. Not all beer and wine are vegan, so it is crucial to research specific brands or look for a vegan certification.
Bone Char: Refined white sugar, especially in the US, is sometimes whitened using bone char, which is made from charred animal bones. Opt for organic or unrefined sugar, which are not processed with bone char, to be certain.
L-Cysteine: An amino acid used as a dough conditioner in some baked goods, it can be derived from animal hair or feathers.

Comparison Table: Common Vegan vs. Non-Vegan Ingredients


Non-Vegan Ingredient	Potential Product	Vegan Alternative	Notes on Vegan Alternative
Gelatin	Gummy candies, marshmallows, some vitamins	Agar-agar, Pectin	Agar-agar from seaweed; Pectin from fruits.
Whey / Casein	Packaged snacks, protein powders, “non-dairy” creamer	Soy protein, Pea protein, Plant milks	Plant-based sources provide similar nutritional profiles.
Carmine / Cochineal	Red colored candies, juices, cosmetics	Beetroot extract, Annatto	Natural plant-based dyes for coloring.
Isinglass	Some beers and wines	Vegan-friendly filtering methods	Many breweries and wineries use alternatives like bentonite clay.
Bone Char (in refined sugar)	White granulated sugar	Organic or raw cane sugar	These are not filtered using animal bones.
L-Cysteine	Commercial bread products	Plant-based L-cysteine or alternatives	Many brands use microbial-sourced L-cysteine.
Lard / Tallow	Fried foods, refried beans, baked goods	Vegetable oil, shortening	Plant-based fats are widely available.
Anchovies	Worcestershire sauce, Caesar dressing, some olive tapenade	Vegan Worcestershire sauce, Capers	Always check the label, as many brands make vegan versions.

Conclusion: Read Labels, Stay Vigilant

Embarking on or maintaining a vegan diet requires more than just avoiding obvious animal products. The food industry's reliance on hidden animal-derived ingredients means vigilance is key. By understanding and identifying common non-vegan components like gelatin, casein, carmine, and processing aids like isinglass and bone char, you can confidently navigate grocery store aisles and restaurant menus. Look for clear vegan certification logos and don't be afraid to research ambiguous ingredients or contact manufacturers when in doubt. Staying informed and mindful ensures that your food choices align with your ethical and dietary values, making your vegan journey a successful one.

How to Check for Hidden Animal-Derived Ingredients

Always read the full ingredient list, not just the front-of-package claims like "plant-based," which can be misleading.
Look for vegan certifications, such as the Vegan Society Trademark, which indicates no animal products were used in the manufacturing process.
Be aware of ambiguous terms, like "natural flavor," which can sometimes be animal-derived. When in doubt, contact the brand for clarification.
Understand E numbers. Some food additives, identified by their E numbers (e.g., E120, E441), are animal-derived. Keep a list handy or use a mobile app to check them.
Use online resources like Barnivore to check if specific brands of beer, wine, and spirits are vegan.

Vegan label reading guide - Veganuary

Frequently Asked Questions

No, many baked goods contain non-vegan ingredients like eggs, milk, or butter. Even some commercial breads use L-cysteine, an amino acid often derived from animal hair or feathers, as a dough conditioner.

While often used interchangeably with 'vegan,' the term 'plant-based' isn't legally standardized and can sometimes mean a product is primarily plant-derived but still contains some animal products. Always check the full ingredients list to be certain.

Not necessarily. Some white granulated sugar is refined using bone char, a charcoal made from animal bones, to achieve its white color. Look for certified organic sugar or raw cane sugar, which typically do not use this process.

Some wine and beer manufacturers use animal-derived 'fining agents' to clarify the liquid. Common examples include isinglass (from fish bladders), gelatin, and egg whites. You can use resources like Barnivore to check specific brands.

The red dye to avoid is carmine (also known as cochineal extract or E120), which is made from the crushed bodies of female cochineal insects. It is often found in red candies, yogurts, and juices.

No, honey is made by bees for their own consumption and is therefore not considered vegan by most definitions. Vegans also avoid bee pollen and royal jelly.

If you come across an unfamiliar ingredient, a quick online search is the best method. Use online vegan dictionaries or a mobile app that scans ingredients and flags potential animal-derived components. You can also contact the manufacturer directly to ask about the sourcing of their ingredients.