Surprising Non-Vegetarian Foods
Jell-o, Marshmallows, Some Cheses: Foods Vegetarians Can’t Eat
Feb 26, 2008
If you are the kind of vegetarian that tries to avoid all animal products, or at least the ones that are produced by killing the animal in question, you may be surprised to learn that some common foods likely in your pantry are not strictly vegetarian. Let’s take a look at the hidden animal products in seemingly harmless foods and other products.
Hello Jell-o!
Jell-o, marshmallows, some gummy candies and other desserts are made using gelatine (or gelatin), which is produced by boiling the bones, skin and tendons of animals. So if you are serious about avoiding eating any animal derivatives, these desserts have to be taken off the menu. Luckily, there are alternatives to gelatine that are used by many manufacturers. Agar agar is derived from seaweed and the root of the Kuzu is also an effective substance. You can also look for products made with guar gum, carrageenan and pectin instead of gelatine. Gelatine can pop up in unexpected places (Kellogg’s Mini-Wheats is one example) so make sure to read labels diligently.
Say Cheese!
Lacto-ovo vegetarians (those that eat dairy products and eggs) see no problem with eating cheese since it is not a product that an animal must die to produce. However, there is an ingredient involved in the cheese-making process that may not meet that criterion. Rennet is added to milk in order to coagulate it and turn it into curds, which are then processed into various cheeses. Most rennet comes from the stomach lining of slaughtered newborn calves. It is possible to obtain rennet from bacterial or fungal sources and advances in genetic engineering means the active ingredient in rennet, chymosin, may also be produced by altering micro-organisms. Vegetarian cheeses are now readily available in grocery stores, but they must be labelled as such. Neither soft nor hard cheeses are more likely to be produced with vegetarian rennet.
Food Additives
A wide variety of food additives are classed as non-vegetarian. They include emulsifiers, colourings, sweeteners, flavour enhancers and preservatives. Some obscure examples include shellac, a common glazing agent, which is a resin secreted by an insect called the lac bug Laccifer lacca Kerr (Coccidae) and L-cysteine, most often produced commercially from either the hair and feathers of slaughtered animals or the hair of human women in third world countries. Visit Veggie Global for a full list of suspect food additives.
Other Products
Some non-food products are also made using animal products and should be avoided by strict vegetarians. Film has traditionally been processed using gelatine. Non-gelatine film is available, but expensive. Digital photography is an affordable alternative.
Many soaps, shampoos and beauty products are made using animal products. Look out for ingredients such as collagen, fatty acids, glycerine, tallow and bovine extracts. There are beauty lines and products available that contain no animal products, just don’t be fooled by some who claim to be “natural” or “organic”, but still use these byproducts in their manufacturing.
Check out Seedling Showcase for a searchable database of approved vegetarian foods, products, caterers and restaurants.
