How to check if a food is vegan (hidden animal ingredients)
Is it vegan? How to check food labels for hidden animal ingredients like carmine, gelatin, whey and shellac, non-vegan E-numbers and "may contain milk".
By the Green Point editorial teamUpdated 6 min readKey takeaways
- A certified vegan logo is the quickest check; otherwise read the full ingredient list, not just the front of the pack.
- Animal ingredients hide behind names like carmine (E120), shellac (E904), whey, casein, isinglass and gelatin.
- Some additives, such as E471 or E322, can be plant or animal based, and the label usually does not say which.
- "May contain milk" on a vegan product is about allergen cross-contact, not the recipe; people with allergies must treat it seriously.
On this page
To check if a food is vegan, look first for a recognized vegan logo, then read the whole ingredient list. Watch for obvious animal products (milk, egg, honey, meat, fish) and hidden ones such as whey, casein, gelatin, carmine (E120), shellac (E904) and beeswax (E901). Some additives can come from plants or animals, so contact the brand when the label is unclear.
Is it vegan? Start with the label
The Vegan Society defines veganism, in dietary terms, as avoiding all products derived wholly or partly from animals. That means no meat, fish, shellfish or insects, and no dairy, eggs or honey. On a food label, that is easy to check when the animal ingredient is named plainly, and harder when it appears as an additive or a technical name.
- Look for a vegan certification logo. Schemes such as the Vegan Society Trademark or the V-Label check the recipe for you. A plain "vegan" claim from the brand is useful too, but rules on its use are not tightly defined in law in most countries.
- Read the allergen information. Milk, eggs, fish, crustaceans and molluscs are major allergens, so they are highlighted in the ingredient list (in bold in the EU and UK) or listed in a "Contains" statement (in the US).
- Scan the rest of the ingredient list for the hidden animal ingredients in the table below.
- Check the additives (E-numbers), since several come from insects, milk, eggs or animal fat.
- When in doubt, ask the manufacturer where an ambiguous ingredient comes from.
Hidden animal ingredients to look out for
These are the ingredients that most often catch people out. Some are always animal based; others depend on the source the manufacturer uses.
| Ingredient | Comes from | Often found in |
|---|---|---|
| Whey, casein, caseinates, lactose, milk solids | Milk | Chips, bread, "non-dairy" creamers, protein bars |
| Gelatin (gelatine) | Animal skin and bones | Gummy sweets, marshmallows, desserts, capsules |
| Carmine, cochineal (E120) | Insects | Red and pink sweets, drinks, yogurts |
| Shellac (E904) | Secretion of lac insects | Glazed sweets, coated chocolates, fruit coatings |
| Beeswax (E901), honey, royal jelly | Bees | Sweet coatings, cereals, cereal bars |
| Albumin, egg white, lysozyme (E1105) | Eggs | Baked goods, some cheeses, wines |
| Isinglass | Fish swim bladders | Used to clarify some beers and wines |
| Lactitol (E966) | Made from milk sugar | Sugar-free sweets |
| Anchovies, fish sauce, fish oil (omega-3) | Fish | Worcestershire sauce, dressings, fortified foods |
Ingredients that may or may not be vegan
Some ingredients can be made from plants, animals or by fermentation, and the label rarely tells you which:
- Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids (E471) and related emulsifiers: from plant oils or animal fats.
- Lecithin (E322): usually soy or sunflower, but can come from egg.
- L-cysteine (E920): a flour treatment agent that can be made from feathers or hair, or produced synthetically.
- Flavor enhancers E627, E631 and E635: can be made from fish or meat, or by fermentation.
- Vitamin D3: often made from lanolin (sheep wool grease), though plant-based (lichen) versions exist.
- "Natural flavors": can include animal-derived flavorings.
Our guide to E-numbers and food additives explains what the main additive groups do.
Vegetarian vs vegan: what is the difference?
A vegetarian diet excludes meat, poultry, fish and seafood, along with slaughter by-products such as gelatin and animal rennet. It usually includes milk, eggs and honey. A vegan diet excludes all of these. That is why a product can be vegetarian but not vegan, such as a cheese made with microbial rennet or a cake made with eggs.
Watch for cheese in particular: traditional cheeses such as Parmigiano Reggiano are made with animal rennet, so they are not vegetarian either.
Why does a vegan product say "may contain milk"?
A vegan claim describes the recipe: no animal ingredients were used. A "may contain milk" or "may contain egg" warning is a precautionary allergen label about possible cross-contact in the factory, for example on a line that also makes milk chocolate. The UK Food Standards Agency says precautionary labels can be used together with vegan or vegetarian labeling, and the Vegan Society allows them on products carrying its trademark while asking brands to minimize cross-contamination as far as possible.
For most vegans, a "may contain" warning does not make a product non-vegan. Read more in our guide to what "may contain traces" really means.
How Green Point checks if a food is vegan
When you scan a food's barcode, Green Point's ingredient analysis says whether the product is vegan and whether it is vegetarian. Because some ingredients can be plant or animal based, the answer can also be "maybe", which is your cue to check that ingredient or ask the brand. The same screen shows the ingredients, allergens and traces as declared for the product, and whether it is palm oil free.
The analysis relies on the ingredient list, so it can only be as complete as the label data. If a product's recipe changes, the pack is always the final word. Some vegans also avoid palm oil for environmental reasons; our guide is palm oil bad? covers the facts.
Frequently asked questions
Are E-numbers vegan?
Most are. Many E-numbers are made from plants, minerals or by fermentation, such as citric acid (E330) or ascorbic acid (E300). A small group is always animal based, including carmine (E120), beeswax (E901), shellac (E904) and lysozyme (E1105). Others, such as E471, E322 and E920, can come from either source, so check with the brand.
Is sugar vegan?
Sugar is made from plants, but some cane sugar is refined using bone char, a charcoal made from animal bones, so it does not end up in the sugar itself. Many vegans accept all sugar, while others prefer beet sugar, organic sugar or brands that confirm they don't use bone char. This is a personal choice rather than a labeling issue.
Is wine or beer vegan?
Not always. Some wines and beers are clarified (fined) with animal products such as isinglass from fish, gelatin, egg white or casein. These agents are mostly removed, so they usually don't appear on the label. Look for a vegan logo or a "suitable for vegans" statement, or ask the producer.
Is a "plant-based" product the same as vegan?
Not necessarily. "Plant-based" is a marketing term and can describe a product that is mostly, but not entirely, made from plants. Some plant-based products contain milk, egg or honey. Always read the ingredient list, or look for a recognized vegan certification.
Sources
- Definition of veganismThe Vegan Society
- Allergen vs Vegan LabellingThe Vegan Society
- Precautionary allergen labellingFood Standards Agency
This guide is for general information and is not medical advice. If you have a skin, allergy or health concern, talk to a doctor, dermatologist or dietitian. Green Point scores and Skin Scan results are informational and are not a diagnosis.
