If you've been vegan of any amount of time, you most likely know that animal products can be hidden in the most unexpected of places. Though it's well worth it, reading labels has to become a habit for those who are committed to the vegan way of life. And while you might think that soda wouldn't contain animal products, it is entirely possible for sodas and other drinks to be made with products derived from animals. You may question how a soda could not be vegan. After all, it isn't made with any obvious animal ingredients. But many types of sodas actually contain ester gum, which is a thickening agent. This gum comes from glycerol, which is often derived from...

  If you are a vegan, you undoubtedly examine the labels on everything you put in your shopping cart. It comes with the territory, because you are very concerned with what you put in your body. When doing so, surely you have come across the much-used "soy lecithin" as an ingredient. The question then becomes, is soy lecithin vegan?   What Is It? First, we have to ask, "What is soy lecithin?" What does it come from, and where is it sourced? There are many types of lecithin, and many ingredients within it. Can you even determine where a processed ingredient like this came from? Lecithin is a generic term used to classify certain fatty compounds, such as glycerol, choline,...

"Give me a break. Give me a break. Break me of a piece of that.." You know the rest. Kit Kats are one of the most popular candy bars around. Unfortunately, a cursory glance at a Kit Kat's ingredients list will show numerous animal products. Anyone who wants to adhere to a vegan lifestyle should stay away from Kit Kats. Kit Kat Ingredients List Here is a rundown of everything that Kit Kats are made of, so that you have a better sense of why, as a vegan, you shouldn't eat them: Sugar Wheat flour Skim milk Cocoa butter Chocolate Palm kernel oil Milk fat Lactose Lecithin (less than 2 percent) PGPR Vanillin, artificial flavor Salt Yeast Baking soda As you can...

What Is Taurine? Taurine is a naturally occurring compound found in fish and meat that is most commonly found as a major ingredient in energy drinks. Taurine is found in the large intestine where it is a major component of bile. It accounts for about 0.1% of the human body. This type of Taurine is not vegan. Check out these organic vegan energy drinks. But, that isn’t the only kind of Taurine there is. In fact, it is more common to find synthetic Taurine in energy drinks. This synthetic Taurine is created in a lab as the direct result of a chemical reaction. Using synthetic Taurine is cheaper than using the naturally occurring variety so many times the energy drinks...

There are a lot of rumors surrounding the ingredients in Monster Energy Drinks online and the company themselves don’t seem to be in any rush to confirm or deny them publicly. Some of the ingredients may not be as familiar as others. This is where the rumors start coming in. The good news is Monster is vegan. So where does the confusion about Monster being vegan come from? Check out these healthier vegan energy drinks, or read on for more! Monster Energy Drinks Ingredients The ingredients in Monster are what you might expect to find in an energy drink. carbonated water sucrose glucose citric acid natural flavors taurine sodiu citrate color added panax ginseng root extract L-carnitine caffeine sorbic acid...

As more and more people are making a commitment to health and fitness, the popularity of sports drinks is growing too.  The original and most famous sports drink is, of course, Gatorade.  Is Gatorade OK for vegans to drink to rehydrate after a workout?  We took a closer look to find out.   What are Sports Drinks? What makes a drink a “sports drink” anyway?  According to WebMD, sports drinks are used to replace your body’s water and electrolytes that are lost when you sweat during exercise.  Electrolytes are substances such as potassium, sodium, calcium, and magnesium that help regulate your body’s fluid levels.  Sports drinks also often contain carbohydrates (usually sugars), and sometimes other ingredients like protein, vitamins, and...

What’s the perfect weekend breakfast or brunch meal?  We’ll pass on the bacon and eggs and take a plate of pancakes any time.  You can easily serve pancakes minus the butter, and without a side of sausage or bacon, but are pancakes themselves vegan?  We took a closer look to see if you can make pancakes from a packaged mix (or from scratch) without animal products like eggs and buttermilk. All About Pancakes   What are pancakes, anyway?  Generally speaking, they are a thin round cake made from batter and cooked on a hot flat surface.  Pancakes have been around since ancient times and are made all over the world.  They go by lots of different names, are made with...

This popular soft drink says that it has zero sugar, zero fat, and zero carbs…sounds great if you’re on a diet, but what if you are vegan? So, is Diet Pepsi vegan? The short answer is technically: no. Here's what you need to know: Diet Pepsi Ingredients  The official company website for all of the Pepsi brands has the nutrition information for Diet Pepsi.  Here are the ingredients: Carbonated water Caramel color Phosphoric acid Potassium benzoate Sucralose Acesulfame potassium Caffeine Natural flavor Citric acid Need help figuring out what some of these things actually are?  The Pepsi website has an alphabetical glossary of ingredients that explains what everything is.  For example, it tells you that caffeine is found naturally in...

When it comes to looking for vegan recipes, those that use potato as the main ingredient are generally seen as safe. But the waters of animal product free dining can become muddied when it comes to recipes where the main ingredient is formed into an unnatural shape, like tater tots. So, are tater tots vegan? Tater tots are generally considered vegan, but there are definitely things to consider before you dive into them! What's In Tater Tots? Tater tots in their most basic form are pieces of minced or shredded potato that have been seasoned, formed into nuggets, and fried. But are tater tots vegan? The first question that is easily answered by anyone preparing tater tots is to find...

Stevia Overview Stevia is a popular sugar substitute derived from the ultra-sweet stevia plant native to South America. Stevia can have an overly sweet taste that isn't too bitter, but is stevia vegan friendly? When making this determination, it's important to check stevia ingredients as many brands add fillers. Some stevia products are also blends and contain other sugar alternatives like erythritol. The good news is most stevia brands on the market are vegan friendly, but that isn't the whole story. Here's what you should know about choosing a healthy, vegan stevia product. Stevia Ingredients List Stevia extract (stevia rebaudiana Bertoni) Maltodextrin (filler based on corn, rice, or potatoes) Dextrose (filler made from corn sugar or honey) Inulin (vegetable-based prebiotic...