Full disclosure—I am not vegan. I do not know the struggle of going to a restaurant and not being able to eat anything, nor do I have to read the back of every cookie package just in case. Being vegan sounds hard, so for my lovely vegan friends out there, let me help you out. Here’s a list of things that are surprisingly not vegan.
1. Marshmallows
This is truly heartbreaking. There is gelatin in lots of marshmallow brands, so be careful the next time you try to make vegan s’mores. However, there are some brands that make vegan marshmallows. Rejoice!
2. Tattoo ink
A lot of black dyes are made from charcoal which comes from burning animal bones. Having gotten three tattoos myself, I never thought about what goes into the dye in my skin. Whether you’re vegan or not, it’s pretty important to know what goes into making the products we use.
3. Apple Juice
Some apple juices are clarified using fish bladders. Check out PETA to make sure the brand you’re drinking is 100 percent vegan before you take a sip. I will personally be taking a break from apple juice because the idea of fish bladders is a little gross.
4. Some Jams
Some jams contain gelatin (gelatin is really ruining things for a lot of vegans). Make sure your jams have pectin and not gelatin if you’re vegan. Pectin is a great vegan alternative because it’s made from fruit, so you can have your PB&J without any worry.
5. Paintballs
Most paintballs contain gelatin. Who would have thought that balls of paint wouldn’t be vegan? Again, gelatin is restricting vegans from quite a lot of foods and activities.
6. Some alcohols
You might think that wine is just crushed grapes, but a lot more goes into the process of making these drinks. Some wines and beers are clarified with fish bladders, bone marrow, casein and gelatin. Do your research and find out if your fave alcohol is vegan.
7. White Sugar
Next time you’re at a café pouring sugar into your soy cappuccino, think twice. Most sugar is processed using bone char to make the product look whiter. Try agavé as a vegan guarantee next time you’re worried about the content of your sweetener.
8. Soda/Cola
A lot of soda products contain insect-derived dyes. It would be nice if they were made with plant-derived ones instead, but right now, a lot aren’t.
9. Minute Maid Grapefruit Juice
Another drink that uses insect-derived dyes is Minute Maid grapefruit juice. I feel like there should be enough alternatives to insect-derived dyes that juice shouldn’t need them. But here’s a fun question to think about: Are insects considered animals? I know quite a few vegans that have killed lots of pesky bugs and spiders, but eating them might be a different matter.
10. Dryer sheets, detergents, and soap
Some soap brands list “fatty acid” as an ingredient. Fats and oils are an essential part to making soap, so make sure to find one that uses oils from plants only. Beware, many of these products are also tested on animals, so do your research.
Animal byproducts are snuck into a lot of things. If you’re vegan or thinking about going vegan, use this list and take a closer look at the products you use and the things you eat. Luckily, a quick Google search should be able to help you find a vegan replacement if you realize your favorite snack isn’t all you hyped it up to be.