If you’re wondering what can’t vegans eat, the simple answer is that vegans do not eat foods that come from animals. This includes obvious foods such as meat, fish, eggs and dairy, but there are also some less obvious foods and ingredients that are not vegan.
Some foods might look like they are completely plant-based but can contain ingredients such as milk powder, whey, gelatine, honey or animal-derived food colouring. So if you’re curious about vegan food or are trying to work out whether a particular food is vegan, here are some of the main things to look out for.
What Foods Can’t Vegans Eat?
Vegans do not eat:
- Meat and poultry
- Fish and seafood
- Eggs
- Milk and dairy products
- Honey
- Gelatine
- Some sweets and confectionery
- Some chocolate
- Some bread and baked goods
- Some crisps and snacks
- Some sauces and condiments
- Foods containing animal-derived ingredients
Meat, Fish, Eggs and Dairy
The most obvious foods that vegans don’t eat are meat, fish, eggs and dairy products.
This includes meat such as beef, pork, lamb and chicken, as well as fish and seafood. Eggs from any animal are also not vegan, including chicken eggs and fish eggs such as roe.
Milk and dairy products such as cheese, yoghurt, cream and butter are also not vegan.
These ingredients can also be found in other foods, so it is important to check the ingredients of packaged food rather than just looking at the main food itself.
Honey and Beeswax
Honey isn’t vegan because it is produced by bees.
This includes honeycomb and foods where honey has been added as an ingredient, such as some cereals, granola, biscuits and sauces.
Beeswax is also an animal-derived ingredient and can be used as a coating or glazing agent on some foods. It can be found in some sweets and confectionery and is sometimes used to give foods a shiny appearance.
Gelatine
Gelatine is another ingredient that vegans don’t eat.
It is made from collagen taken from animal tissue and is used as a setting agent in foods such as jelly, gummy sweets, marshmallows and some desserts.
If you’re looking for vegan alternatives, agar agar and pectin can both be used as plant-based setting agents.
Can Vegans Eat Chocolate?
Some chocolate is vegan and some isn’t.
Milk chocolate usually contains milk, while dark chocolate can sometimes contain milk powder, milk fat or other dairy ingredients.
Chocolate also isn’t necessarily vegan simply because it is dark chocolate, so check the ingredients or look for a vegan label.
Some chocolate products can also contain honey or other animal-derived ingredients.
Can Vegans Eat Sweets?
Some sweets are vegan, but many are not.
Gelatine is a common ingredient in gummy sweets, jelly sweets, marshmallows and other confectionery. Some sweets can also contain beeswax, shellac, carmine or dairy ingredients.
Carmine, also called cochineal or E120, is a red food colouring made from insects and is therefore not vegan.
If you’re buying sweets for a vegan, it is best to look for sweets specifically labelled vegan or check the ingredients carefully.
Can Vegans Eat Bread?
Many types of bread are vegan, but not all bread is.
Basic bread made from ingredients such as flour, water, yeast and salt is usually vegan. However, some bread can contain milk, butter, eggs or other animal-derived ingredients.
Some enriched breads, brioche-style breads and certain speciality breads are more likely to contain dairy or eggs.
Always check the ingredients if you’re unsure whether a particular loaf or bread product is vegan.
Can Vegans Eat Crisps?
Many crisps are vegan, but some flavours contain ingredients that aren’t.
Cheese and other dairy-based flavours can contain milk, whey or cheese powder. Some meat-flavoured crisps can also contain animal-derived ingredients.
The plain ingredients in a crisp may be vegan while the flavouring isn’t, so check the ingredients of the particular flavour rather than assuming all crisps are vegan.
Can Vegans Eat Pasta?
Many dried pastas are vegan because they are made from durum wheat and water.
However, some pasta contains eggs, particularly fresh pasta. Filled pasta such as ravioli and tortellini can also contain cheese, meat or other animal-derived ingredients.
If you’re eating out or buying fresh pasta, check whether it contains egg or dairy.
Can Vegans Eat Biscuits and Cakes?
Not all biscuits and cakes are vegan.
Traditional recipes often contain butter, milk or eggs, meaning that many ordinary biscuits, cakes, cupcakes and pastries aren’t suitable for vegans.
However, there are plenty of vegan versions available and many recipes can be made without eggs or dairy.
When buying packaged baked goods, check the ingredients for milk, butter, whey, eggs and other animal-derived ingredients.
Can Vegans Eat Mayonnaise?
Traditional mayonnaise isn’t vegan because it is usually made with eggs.
There are now many vegan mayonnaise products available that use plant-based ingredients instead of eggs.
It’s therefore important to check whether mayonnaise is labelled vegan rather than assuming that all mayonnaise is suitable for vegans.
Can Vegans Eat Sauces and Condiments?
Some sauces and condiments contain animal-derived ingredients.
Examples can include:
- Fish sauce
- Oyster sauce
- Some mayonnaise
- Some creamy salad dressings
- Sauces containing milk or cream
- Some stocks and gravy
- Sauces containing honey
There are vegan alternatives to many of these products, but ingredients can vary between brands.
What Other Ingredients Can’t Vegans Eat?
There are some animal-derived ingredients that aren’t as obvious as meat, milk or eggs.
These can include:
Carmine or Cochineal
Carmine, also known as cochineal or E120, is a red food colouring made from insects. It can be found in some sweets, drinks and other foods and isn’t vegan.
Shellac
Shellac is made by insects and can be used as a glossy coating on some foods, including confectionery. It is sometimes listed as E904.
Isinglass
Isinglass is made from fish and can be used in the processing or clarification of some drinks, including certain beers and wines.
Whey
Whey is a milk-derived ingredient that can be found in foods such as some biscuits, chocolate, crisps, protein products and baked goods.
Casein
Casein is a protein found in milk and is therefore not vegan. It can appear in some processed foods and dairy-containing products.
Milk Powder
Milk powder is simply dried milk, but it can be easy to overlook when checking an ingredients list.
Beeswax
Beeswax can be used as a glazing or coating agent and is sometimes listed as E901.
Do Vegans Have To Avoid All Foods With E Numbers?
No. E numbers are simply a system used to identify food additives and an E number does not automatically mean that an ingredient isn’t vegan.
Some E numbers are made from plants or synthetic ingredients and are suitable for vegans. Others can be derived from animals.
For example, E120 (carmine/cochineal) is not vegan, while many other food colourings and additives are vegan.
If you’re unsure about a particular additive, check the manufacturer’s information or look for a vegan label.
How Can You Tell If A Food Is Vegan?
The easiest way to check packaged food is to look at the ingredients list and check for animal-derived ingredients.
Look out for ingredients such as:
- Milk
- Whey
- Casein
- Milk powder
- Butter
- Eggs
- Gelatine
- Honey
- Beeswax
- Carmine or cochineal
- Shellac
- Fish or seafood ingredients
You can also look for a vegan label or certification.
Remember that ingredients can vary between different brands and flavours, so don’t assume that a food is vegan just because another version of the same product is.
What Foods Can Vegans Eat?
There are still plenty of foods that vegans can eat.
Naturally vegan foods include:
- Fruit
- Vegetables
- Potatoes
- Rice
- Pasta without eggs
- Bread without animal ingredients
- Beans
- Lentils
- Chickpeas
- Nuts
- Seeds
- Oats
- Grains
- Tofu
- Tempeh
There are also many vegan alternatives to foods such as cheese, milk, yoghurt, meat, mayonnaise and chocolate.
The Easiest Way To Remember What Vegans Can’t Eat
The easiest way to remember what vegans can’t eat is to think about where the food or ingredient comes from.
If it comes from an animal, it isn’t vegan.
The obvious examples are meat, fish, eggs, milk and honey, but it is also worth checking for less obvious animal-derived ingredients such as gelatine, carmine, beeswax and shellac.
If you’re unsure whether a packaged food is vegan, check the ingredients list and look for a vegan label. With a little practice, spotting non-vegan ingredients becomes much easier.