Hidden animal products?

Question

Does anyone know of a site that tells you all the additives that contain animal products.I am a vegan and have suddenly realised that I may be eating things without realising.I already avoid whey as an ingredient but what else contains milk or egg or dairy things?

Is it true vegans can't eat yeast?I eat marmite and vegemite as they are labelled vegan but they are yeast extracts?

Answer 1

Vegans must watch out for foods which contain animal substances. Below is a list of things vegans should look out for:

albumen/albumin: egg white. Use/s: food binder
alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs): naturally occurring chemicals derived from fruit or milk. Use/s: cosmetics
ambergris: morbid concretion obtained from the intestine of the sperm whale. Use/s: perfumes
amniotic fluid: fluid surrounding the foetus within the placenta. Use/s: cosmetics
anchovy: small fish of the herring family. Often an ingredient of Worcester sauce and pizza toppings. Use/s: flavor enhancer
angora: fiber obtained from rabbits or goats. Use/s: clothing
aspic: jelly derived from meat and fish. Use/s: glazing agent
astrakhan: skin of still born or very young lambs from a breed originating in Astrakhan, Russia. Use/s: clothing
bristle: stiff animal hair, usually from pigs. Use/s: brushes
casein: Ammonium Caseinate. Calcium Caseinate. Potassium Caseinate. Sodium Caseinate. The principle protein of cow's milk. Use/s: texturizer for ice cream, frozen custard, ice milk, fruit sherbets, and in special diet preparations.
cashmere: fine wool from the cashmere goat and wild goat of Tibet. Use/s: clothing
castoreum: obtained from the anal sex gland of the beaver. Use/s: fixative in perfumes
catgut: dried and twisted intestines of the sheep or horse. Use/s: stringed musical instruments, surgical stitching
caviar: roe of the sturgeon and other fish. Use/s: a relish
chitin: organic base of the hard parts of insects and crustacea eg shrimps, crabs. Use/s: conditioners and skin care products, thickener and moisturiser in shampoos
chamois: soft leather from the skin of the chamois antelope, sheep, goats, deer, etc. Use/s: cleaning cloth
cochineal (E120): dye-stuff consisting of the dried bodies of scale insects. Use/s: red food and drink coloring
cod liver oil: oil extracted from the liver of cod and related fish. Use/s: food supplement
D3 (cholecalciferol): vitamin derived from lanolin or fish oil. Use/s: vitamin and food supplements
down: underplummage of fowls (especially duck and goose). Use/s: filling quilts, pillows, sleeping bags, padded clothing
eider down: small, soft feathers from the breast of the eider duck. Use/s: filling quilts
elastin: protein uniting muscle fibers in meat. Use/s: moisturizer in cosmetics
gelatin: jelly obtained by boiling animal tissues (skin, tendons, ligaments etc) or bones. Use/s: confectionery, biscuits, capsules, jellies, photographic film, match heads
glycerin/glycerol (E422): clear, colourless liquid which may be derived from animal fats, synthesised from propylene or from fermentation of sugars. Use/s: solvent for flavours, texture improver, humectant
hide: animal skin (raw or tanned). Use/s: clothing and footwear, clothing accessories, upholstery
isinglass: very pure form of gelatin obtained from the air bladders of some freshwater fishes, especially the sturgeon. Use/s: clarifying alcoholic drinks, jellies
keratin: protein found in hair, horns, hoofs and feathers. Use/s: shampoos and conditioners, fertilizer
L'cysteine hydrochloride (E920): manufactured from animal hair and chicken feathers, or synthetically from coal tar. Use/s: shampoo, improving agent for white flour
lactose: milk sugar. Use/s: tablet filler, sweetener, 'carrier' for flavoring agents & emdash; especially in crisps
lanolin: fat extracted from sheep's wool. Use/s: cleaning products, an emollient and emulsifier used in cosmetics & emdash; especially lipsticks
lard: fat surrounding the stomach and kidneys of the pig, sheep and cattle. Use/s: culinary
leather: tanned hide (mostly from cattle but also sheep, pigs, goats etc). Use/s: clothing and footwear, clothing accessories, upholstery
lecithin (E322): fatty substance found in nerve tissues, egg yolk, blood and other tissues. Use/s: emulsifier in baked goods and confectionery
lutein(E161(b)): substance of deep yellow colour found in egg yolk. Use/s: food coloring
mohair: cloth or yarn made from the hair of the angora goat. Use/s: clothing
musk: substance secreted in a gland or sac by the male musk deer. Use/s: perfume
oleoic oil: liquid obtained from pressed tallow. Use/s: margarines
oleostearin: solid obtained from pressed tallow. Use/s: soap and candle making
oestrogen: female sex hormone from cow ovaries or pregnant mares' urine. Use/s: cosmetics, body building supplements, hormone creams
pearl ('Mother of', or 'cultured'): concretion of layers of pain-dulling nacre formed around a foreign particle within the shell of various bivalve molluscs, principally the oyster. Use/s: jewelry and decorative
pepsin: enzyme found in gastric juices. Use/s: cheese making
placenta: organ by which the foetus is attached to the umbilical cord. Use/s: cosmetics
progesterone: sex hormone. Use/s: hormone creams
propolis: bee glue. Used by bees to stop up crevices and fix combs to the hive. Use/s: toiletries and cosmetics
rennet: extract of calf stomach. Contains the enzyme renin which clots milk. Use/s: cheese making, junkets
roe eggs: obtained from the abdomen of slaughtered female fish. Use/s: a relish
sable: fur from the sable marten, a small carnivorous mammal. Use/s: clothing, artists' brushes
shellac (E904): insect secretion. Use/s: hair spray, lip sealer, polishes, glazing agent
silk: cloth made from the fibre produced by the larvae ('silk worm') of certain bombycine moths, the harvesting of which entails the destruction of the insect. Use/s: clothing, cosmetics
sodium 5'-inosinate: occurs naturally in muscle. Prepared from fish waste. Use/s: flavor enhancer
sperm oil: oil found in the head of various species of whales. Use/s: candle making
spermaceti wax: fatty substance found mainly in the head of the sperm whale, other whales and dolphins. Use/s: medicines, candle making, cosmetics
sponge: aquatic animal or colony of animals of a 'low order', characterized by a tough elastic skeleton of interlaced fibers. Use/s. bathing aid
squalene/squalane: found in the liver of the shark (and rats). Use/s: toiletries and cosmetics
stearate: salt of stearic acid Use/s: body building supplements
stearic acid (E570): organic acid prepared from stearin
stearin(e): general name for the three glycerids (monostearin, distearin, tristearin). Formed by the combination of stearic acid and glycerin; chiefly applied to tristearin, which is the main constituent of tallow or suet. Use/s: medicines, skin softener in toiletries and cosmetics
suede: kid-, pig- or calf-skin, tanned. Use/s: clothing and footwear
suet: solid fat prepared from the kidneys of cattle and sheep. Use/s: cooking
tallow: hard animal fat, especially that obtained from the parts about the kidneys of ruminating animals. Use/s: soap and candle making
testosterone: male hormone. Use/s: body building supplements
urea: waste nitrogen formed in the liver and excreted by the kidneys. Use/s: toiletries and cosmetics
vellum: fine parchment prepared from the skins of calves, lambs or kids. Use/s: writing material
vitamin A (retinol): derived from fish liver oil or egg yolk. Use/s: cosmetics, food supplement
volaise: ostrich meat
whey: residue from milk after the removal of the casein and most of the fat. By-product of cheese making. Use/s: margarines, biscuits, crisps, cleaning products
wool: hair forming the fleecy coat of the domesticated sheep (and similar animals). Use/s: clothing

Answer 2

There are many sites that document these additives, "Vegan and Proud" has a great answer.

The only other thing i would say is that some ingredients have multiple sources - vegan or not. So just because a company tells you thier colouring ( eg) is vegan one week does not mean its vegan the next week. The only way to be sure is a vegan symbol anmd to mainly cook from raw ingredients.

One example is Ribena. SKB recommend veggies and vegans check every 6 months because they change the source of thier ingrdients sometimes.

You are doign the right thing.

Veggies and vegans should always check ingrdients lists. Without doing that, its just guesswork and one could not ligitimately call your self a veggie or vegan without doing so.

Who would of thought that veggies cannot eat tinned vegetables - mad eh ?? Suppliers can miss off some ingredients because they are trace, but never-the-less, carrots generally have non-veggie colouring in the tin

Answer 3

being a vegan its not only what you consume, its what you wear, no leather, suede,wool or mixed fibres,felt,fur (why would anybody)
COTTON, YES COTTON,in the process they use lanolin obtained from wool to stretch the cotton, no make up at all no matter what they tell you about not containing any animal fat ,a mammal does not count to them,no perfume you cannot be sure they havent used the gland of the musk ox in preperation, some even use bees for the facial products thinking you wont notice where beeswax comes from.
AND NO CORNFLAKES, OR ANY CEREAL THAT CONTAINS THE CEMENT, HONEY, they use it to gl;ue the cereals together,leave all beer,wine, lager alone, they use fish scales to clear it ready for your consumption, and no bread that contains yeast or any extract, yeast is a living orginism.its surprisng we dont see many more vegans about naked and starving isnt it ? LF

Answer 4

hey there vegan!!
the UK vegan society website has much info including some clear, non-militant, nutritional stuff....reminds me of a vegan joke...
Q-how many vegans does it take to change a light bulb?
A-3, 1 to do it but 2 other official vegans to read the ingredients!
ha ha ha, [wee bit of truth in there!]
you think you've cracked it then you vegan mate tells you that 'so and so' company now uses fish bone in their envelope glue etc.
don't give up tho.... lighten your load, reduce your impact on the planet has got to be the way forward. peace

Answer 5

I prefer both fruits and fresh vegetables better, however they look and taste. You desire a little of both.

Answer 6

If perhaps it's a fruit they have seeds, otherwise it's a vegetable. And vegetables are usually grown in the ground while fruits are grown in trees.

Answer 7

Try this one.
:)

http://www.peta.org/mc/factsheet_display.asp?ID=72

Remember, it is impossible to be 100% vegan. Drop what you can, as you can. Don't freak out about imperfection; just work on it as you go.

EDIT- Yeast is perfectly fine for vegans. Many use nutritional yeast as a source of B12. This is a funny question that has started popping up around here.

Answer 8

Google "animal products list". You'll get a whole bunch of stuff you're looking for.

Vegan pride!

Answer 9

there is a good explanation off all the e numbers on wikipedia i was looking it up the other day to find out what number cocheniel is.

it's good to know what numbers the nasty ones are!

Answer 10

i find new stuff everyday, now worries. It takes time.
check these out :http://www.cyberparent.com/eat/hiddenanimalsinfood.htm and vegan.org :]