Is A1 vegan? Technically yes, but the company has a history of animal abuse. Read on for more info, as well as a few vegan steak sauce brands & homemade vegan steak sauce recipe!
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Have you chosen to live a vegan lifestyle? You are not alone. According to recent statistics, there are at least 1.62 million of us in America. Like me, you decided that precious animal life does not have to be sacrificed for our needs or pleasure.
Even simple things like condiments can have animal products hidden in the ingredient list. Do you like savory sauce with your grilled portabella mushroom or meat substitution? One of the most popular brands is A1 Original Sauce. Is America’s favorite sauce vegan?
Brief History Of A1 Sauce
Company history shares that this delectable sauce was created by a British chef to King George IV early in the 19th century. This popular English condiment eventually made its way to America, where it was acquired by Kraft Foods. A1 is a staple for tables in many restaurants.
Is A1 Vegan?
Although the original recipe, which once contained marmalade and malted vinegar, has been tweaked over the years, the ingredient list is still plant-based. A1 contains pureed tomatoes, raisins, herbs, spices, garlic, onion, and orange puree. Caramel color (from sugars) enhance the sauce’s color, and xanthan gum thickens it.
All these ingredients are vegan, and no animals are tested or harmed in the manufacturing process. The manufacturers (Kraft Foods) concluded in 2014 that the word “steak” sauce excluded people with alternative diets. They dropped the reference to meat and gave the sauce its original name: A1 Sauce.
I was pleased to find that the ingredients were vegan, and that they changed the name to reach a wider customer base. If you have questions about many brands of food and other goods, PETA’s website is a vegan’s best friend. Among the list of approved vegan condiments, you will find A1 Sauce.
Before You Buy A1
Now that we have established A1 Sauce as vegan and on a PETA-approved list, you may be ready to add it to your pantry. After I read a little bit of research by PETA into the manufacturer (Kraft Foods), I started to have doubts.
In 2014, PETA investigators were outraged at the cruel treatment of calves in dairy farms operated by Kraft Foods. Company farmers routinely ripped budding horns right out of baby calves’ skulls—with no painkillers. Other cruelties include burning their horns out with hot irons or caustic acid.
After the eyewitness accounts and film footage, PETA sent a letter to Kraft Foods that insisted that such barbaric acts against these animals cease. Since Kraft Foods has many brands in the meat and dairy industry, they readily admit to testing on animals.
A1 Sauce may have vegan-friendly ingredients and an inclusive name; however, the manufacturer is anything but kind to our four-footed friends. Does the sauce taste so good that we can overlook animal cruelty? Kraft Foods have several foods listed as vegan—but they still practice animal testing and other atrocities against nature.
Make Your Own Vegan Steak Sauce
Just because you do not buy A1 Sauce does not mean you will never taste something similar. The basic ingredients of this condiment are available in most supermarkets. Just be sure that you buy ingredients from manufacturers that are kind to animals and the environment.
Try this awesome alternative recipe:
Savory Vegan Steak Sauce Recipe
- 1⁄2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice (from a sustainable grove)
- 1 tablespoon freshly grated orange zest
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- ¼ cup white vinegar
- ½ cup unsweetened raisins
- 2 tablespoons of Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons of ketchup (homemade, if possible)
- 2 tablespoons of chili sauce (homemade, if possible)
Directions:
1. Mix all ingredients in a saucepan over medium-high heat.
2. Let the mixture come to a boil as you constantly stir it, about 2 minutes.
3. Take the pan off the heat and place it on a back burner to cool.
4. When the mixture is completely cool, transfer it to a blender and puree until velvety-smooth.
5. Pour the sauce into a sealed container and keep refrigerated. It should be used within three months.
To watch sauce being made, watch this video from YouTube (FYI: this recipe is vegan, but they do show meat in this video):
Another good thing about making your own sauce is that you can control the sodium content, which is a bit high in A1 Sauce.
Not only is homemade sauce superb on vegan meat patties, but it pairs well with steamed veggies or anything that needs a little kick of sweet and spicy. Try it with rice or lentil dishes, or add a little bit to your regular salad dressing.
Vegan Steak Sauce Brands
If you would rather buy a bottle of vegan savory sauce, try these great alternatives to A1 Sauce:
This sauce is low in sodium, high in taste, and kind to animals.
Do you want a bold taste that is organic and vegan? Try this zesty chimichurri sauce on all your meat-substitute dishes.
Is A1 Sauce vegan? It may be vegan as far as its ingredients are concerned, but it is made by a company that has documented cases of animal cruelty. As a vegan, I try to research manufacturers as well as their products. It is up to you to decide what to buy.
Better alternatives such as homemade sauce and cruelty-free brands make your decisions easier. Vegan meals are just as tasty and satisfying as traditional meat menus. Do some research and find some awesome vegan recipes to try. Your taste buds will be so amazed, that you will not miss the meat!
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