Ingredient Guide

Unfriendly Ingredients for Vegan Lifestyles

Ingredients that people with certain lifestyles and diets choose to avoid in their food.

Ingredients for Other Diets »

Veganism is the practice of abstaining from the consumption and use of animal products.

Ingredients that people living the Vegan lifestyle, typically, choose to avoid in their food.

See Vegan Diet Friendly Food »

Ingredient Is it Vegan? Description
A1 May be Vegan Vitamin A obtained from vegetables, egg yolks, or fish liver oil.
Abalone Never Vegan Abalone is a common name for any of a group of small to very large sea snails and molluscs.
Acetate May be Vegan Possible sources are fish liver oil, egg yolks, butter, lemongrass, carrots or synthetics.
Acetic May be Vegan Emulsifier - May contain animal fat as it is derived from Glycerin/Glycerol.
Acetylated Never Vegan Can come from fish oil, egg yolks, butter, lemongrass, wheat germ oil, carotene in carrots, etc.
Adrenaline Never Vegan Hormone from adrenal glands of hogs, cattle, and sheep.
Alanine Never Vegan The building blocks of protein in all animals and plants.
Albumen May be Vegan In eggs, milk, muscles, blood, and many vegetable tissues and fluids.
Albumin May be Vegan In eggs, milk, muscles, blood, and many vegetable tissues and fluids.
Alcloxa Never Vegan Uric acid from cows, most mammals. Also in many plants.
Aldioxa Never Vegan Uric acid from cows, most mammals. Also in many plants.
Aliphatic Never Vegan A product of the oil glands of sheep, extracted from their wool.
Allantoin May be Vegan Uric acid from cows, most mammals. Also in many plants.
Alligator Never Vegan Typically used for their skin and sometimes for their meat and tissue.
Allura May be Vegan Allura Red. Derived from either coal tar or petroleum. It is not derived from insects.
Alpha-Hydroxy Never Vegan Any one of several acids used as an exfoliant and in anti-wrinkle products. May be animal-derived.
Ambergris Never Vegan From whale intestines. Used in perfumes and as flavoring in foods and beverages.
Amerchol Never Vegan A product of the oil glands of sheep, extracted from their wool.
Amino May be Vegan The building blocks of protein in all animals and plants.
Aminosuccinate Never Vegan An amino acid that is used in the biosynthesis of proteins.
Ammonium May be Vegan Another type of salt derived from Lactic Acid, which can be obtained from whey or milk.
Amylase May be Vegan Enzyme derived from either animal (usually porcine pancreas), fungal, bacterial or plant source.
Anchovy Never Vegan Not vegan if sourced from an animal.
Angora Never Vegan Hair from the Angora rabbit or goat. Used in clothing. Alternatives: synthetic fibers.
Animal Never Vegan This product contains an animal derivative. May not be vegan friendly.
Arachidonic Never Vegan A fatty acid found in liver, brain, glands, and fat of animals and humans.
Arachidyl Never Vegan A wax that can be from animal fat. Alternatives: peanut or vegetable oil.
Aspartic May be Vegan An amino acid occurring in animals and plants. Usually synthesized from glutamate.
Aspic Never Vegan Savory jelly derived from meat and fish.
Astrakhan Never Vegan Skin of still born or very young lambs from a breed originating in Astrakhan, Russia.
Bacon Never Vegan Bacon is a type of salt-cured pork/pig. Not considered a vegan option.
Bee Never Vegan This product contains an ingredient derived from bees. May not be vegan friendly.
Beef Never Vegan Not vegan if originating from cow flesh.
Beeswax Never Vegan Wax usually obtained from melting honeycomb with boiling water, straining it, and cooling it.
Biotin May be Vegan A whitish powder. It can be derived from animal cells, milk plants, or produced synthetically.
Bison Never Vegan Ingredient comes from bison, which is a relative to cows. Not a vegan option.
Blood Never Vegan From any slaughtered animal. Possibly in foods such as lecithin.
Boar Never Vegan Ingredient comes from boar, which is a relative to the pig. Not a vegan option.
Bonchar Never Vegan Animal bone ash. Black residue from bones calcined in closed vessels.
Bone Never Vegan Anti-caking Agent - Contains bones from animals.
Boneblack Never Vegan Bone Charcoal. Made by roasting bones. Used in some filters and in refining cane sugar.
Bonemeal Never Vegan Crushed or ground animal bones.
Bonito Never Vegan Smaller relative of the tuna fish. Used as an ingredient in Japanese cuisine.
Bovine Never Vegan Another word for cows or cattle. Not a vegan friendly food source.
Brain Never Vegan Extract taken from the brain of a slaughtered animal.
Bristle Never Vegan Stiff animal hair, usually from pigs.
Butter Never Vegan Ingredient contains butter. Most likely derived from dairy but may be plant based.
Buttermilk Never Vegan Ingredient contains buttermilk. Most likely derived from dairy but may be plant based.
Calamari Never Vegan Not vegan if sourced from an actual squid.
Calciferol May be Vegan Can come from fish liver oil, milk, egg yolks, and other animal products but can come from plants.
Calcium May be Vegan May be derived from the shells of marine organisms, snails, and eggs. Check the label to be sure.
Calfskin Never Vegan Skin from a calf. Typically found in leather products.
Canthaxanthin May be Vegan Coloring - Usually derived from plant material, but it can sometimes be made from fish and shells.
Capiz Never Vegan A shell from a marine animal.
Capryl Never Vegan A fatty acid found in cow or goat milk. May also be from palm, coconut, and other plant oils.
Caprylamine Never Vegan A fatty acid found in cow or goat milk. May also be from palm, coconut, and other plant oils.
Caprylic Never Vegan A fatty acid found in cow or goat milk. May also be from palm, coconut, and other plant oils.
Caramel May be Vegan Used as a coloring. Some caramel is derived from cane sugar and not necessarily vegan.
Carbamide May be Vegan Usually plant based. Can be extracted from animal urine and other body fluids.
Carbon May be Vegan Likely derived from animals unless otherwise noted.
Carmine Never Vegan Red pigment extracted from the crushed carcasses of the cochineal insect, a cactus-feeding insect.
Carminic Never Vegan Red pigment extracted from the crushed carcasses of the cochineal insect, a cactus-feeding insect.
Casein Never Vegan The main protein present in milk and cheese.
Caseinogen Never Vegan A milk protein found in creamers, cosmetics, hair products, and beauty masks.
Cashmere Never Vegan Wool taken from a goat.
Castoreum Never Vegan A secretion from muskrat or beaver genitals.
Catalase May be Vegan Enzyme that decomposes hydrogen peroxide. It is derived from cattle liver or fungus.
Catgut Never Vegan Tough cord or thread made from the intestines of sheep, horses, etc.
Cattle Never Vegan Cattle, or cows, are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates.
Caviar Never Vegan Caviar are fish eggs. Not a vegan friendly option.
Cetyl Never Vegan May be a wax derived from sperm whales, dolphins, or other marine animals.
Chalk May be Vegan A powder that occurs in marble, limestone, coral, eggshells, pearls or oyster shells.
Chamois Never Vegan Soft leather from the skin of the chamois antelope, sheep, goats, deer etc.
Charcoal May be Vegan Charred animal bone or wood.
Cheese Never Vegan Most likely dairy based. Some forms are plant based and should be clearly labeled if true.
Chicken Never Vegan Not a vegan food if a byproduct of an animal.
Chitin Never Vegan Organic base of the hard parts of insects and crustacea e.g. shrimps, crabs.
Chocolate May be Vegan Most chocolates are not vegan. Check the ingredients for dairy or milk.
Cholecalciferol Never Vegan Vitamin usually derived from animal sources like lanolin, milk, egg yolk and fish liver oil.
Cholesterin Never Vegan Derived from animal fats or oils, nerve tissues, eggs or blood.
Cholesterol Never Vegan A steroid alcohol occurring in all animal fats and oils, nervous tissue, egg yolk and blood.
Cholic Never Vegan An acid found in humans and animals.
Choline Never Vegan Frequently obtained from eggs, nerve tissue, blood, and milk.
Chondroitin May be Vegan Produced synthetically or derived from the cartilage of cows, pigs, sharks, fish or birds.
Chymosin May be Vegan Extract usually obtained from a newly-born calf stomach. This can also be derived from synthetic sources or from bacteria and fungus.
Chymotrypsin Never Vegan Enzyme primarily derived from ox pancreas.
Cistine May be Vegan An amino acid which can come from animals.
Citric May be Vegan Emulsifier - May contain animal fat as it is derived from Glycerin/Glycerol.
Civet Never Vegan Substance painfully scraped from glands in the anal pouch of the civet cat.
Cochineal Never Vegan Red pigment extracted from the crushed carcasses of the cochineal insect, a cactus-feeding insect.
Cod Never Vegan Not a vegan option if from the cod fish.
Collagen Never Vegan Protein found in most tissues, including bone, cartilage and skin. Typically from cows or chickens.
Confectioner Never Vegan Glazing Agent - Most likely a resin secreted by the lac bug.
Coral Never Vegan Substance consisting secreted by coelenterate polyps for their support and habitation.
Cortico Never Vegan Cortisone. Hormone from cattle liver. Widely used in medicine. Alternatives: synthetics.
Corticosteroid May be Vegan Steroid hormones secreted by the adrenal cortex and their synthetic analogs.
Cortisone May be Vegan Steroid hormones secreted by the adrenal cortex and their synthetic analogs.
Crab Never Vegan Not a vegan option if sourced from a crab.
Crisp May be Vegan May contain dairy ingredients such as casein, whey or animal-derived enzymes.
Crustacean Never Vegan Includes such familiar animals as crabs, lobsters, crayfish, shrimp, krill, woodlice, and barnacles.
Cysteine May be Vegan An amino acid found in the hair protein keratin.
Dairy Never Vegan Dairy products are a type of food produced from or containing milk of mammals.
Dashi Never Vegan Stock made from fish and seaweed. Used in Japanese cuisine.
Dexpanthenol May be Vegan Can come from animal or plant sources or synthetics.
Dextrose May be Vegan Sometimes derived from animal tissues and fluids. Check the label to determine if plant based.
Diacetyl May be Vegan Emulsifier - May contain animal fat as it is derived from Glycerin/Glycerol.
Diglyceride May be Vegan Emulsifier - May contain animal fats.
Disodium May be Vegan Flavor Enhancer - Often made from animals.
Down Never Vegan Goose or duck insulating feathers. Often from slaughtered or cruelly exploited geese.
Duck Never Vegan Not a vegan option if sourced from a duck.
Duodenum Never Vegan A part of an intestinal tract. In some vitamins and medicines.
E120 Never Vegan Coloring - Cochineal (another name for carminic acid, a pigment made from powdered insects)
E322 May be Vegan Emulsifier - From soy or eggs. Check for vegan labeling or contact the supplier.
E422 May be Vegan Sweetener - Likely plant-based but may be derived from animal fat.
E471 May be Vegan Mono and di-glycerides of fatty acids (sometimes derived from animal fats).
E542 Never Vegan Edible Bone Phosphate: A product made from the bones of cattle or pigs.
E631 May be Vegan Disodium Inosinate: Can be produced from meat, fish or tapioca starch.
E901 Never Vegan Glazing Agent - Made from beeswax.
E904 May be Vegan Glazing Agent - Shellac is the secretion of the lac bug.
E920 May be Vegan Improving Agent - Produced commercially from animal and human hair (and feathers).
Egg Never Vegan This product contains egg in one form or another. Not vegan friendly.
Elastin Never Vegan Found in the neck ligaments and aorta of bovine. Similar to collagen.
Enzyme May be Vegan Protein produced by living cells. Can be derived from animals, plants, bacteria, fungi and yeast.
Ergocalciferol May be Vegan Vitamin usually derived from plant sterols or yeast. Can also be derived from animal fats.
Ergosterol May be Vegan May be from various animal glands or from plant tissues.
Escargot Never Vegan A food consisting of cooked land snails. Not a vegan option.
Estradiol Never Vegan Estradiol/Estrogen: From cow ovaries and pregnant horse urine.
Estrogen Never Vegan Estrone/Estrogen: From cow ovaries and pregnant horse urine.
Estrone Never Vegan Estrone/Estrogen: From cow ovaries and pregnant horse urine. Considered a drug.
Fatty May be Vegan Fatty Acids: Organic compounds - Saturated, polyunsaturated and unsaturated.
Feather Never Vegan Generally from exploited and/or slaughtered birds.
Felt May be Vegan Cloth made of wool, or of wool and fur or hair.
Ferrous May be Vegan Coloring - May be derived from animal source.
Fish Never Vegan Fish are not considered a vegan food.
Fletan Never Vegan Rare ingredient derived from fish liver which includes lecithin, Vitamin A and Vitamin D.
Folate May be Vegan Used in foods or as a supplement, especially for pregnant women. Usually produced synthetically.
Fur Never Vegan The skin of an animal. Used in clothing.
Gelatin Never Vegan Protein obtained by boiling animal skin, connective tissue or bones, usually from cows or pigs.
Glaze May be Vegan A pure food glaze and natural glaze. Made with shellac from the lac bug. Also known as beetle juice.
Glucono May be Vegan Also known as gluconolactone or GDL. Typically from oxidation of a glucose by microorganisms.
Glucosamine May be Vegan Usually extracted from the tissues of shellfish. Sometimes from corn or produced synthetically.
Glucose May be Vegan Sometimes derived from animal tissues and fluids. Check the label to determine if plant based.
Glutamic May be Vegan An amino acid found widely in plant and animal tissue.
Glyceride Never Vegan Most likely from animal fat but may be plant based.
Glycerin May be Vegan Often derived from animal fat but may also be plant based.
Glycerol May be Vegan Sweetener - Mostly from animal fats, unless otherwise stated.
Glyceryl May be Vegan Emulsifier - May contain animal fats.
Glycine May be Vegan Flavor Enhancer - Can sometimes be prepared from gelatine, but can be made synthetically.
Goose Never Vegan Geese are not considered a vegan food.
Guanine Never Vegan Pearl Essence. Obtained from scales of fish.
Hair Never Vegan In some blankets, mattresses, brushes, furniture, etc. Alternatives: vegetable and man-made fibers.
Hide Never Vegan Same as gelatin but of a cruder, more impure form.
Hogs Never Vegan Hog - Derives from a domestic pig.
Honey Never Vegan Sweetener - A substance secreted by bees and some related insects.
Humectant May be Vegan Sweetener - Mostly from animal fats, unless otherwise stated.
Imidazolidinyl May be Vegan Typically synthetic. When extracted from animals, it is excreted from urine and other bodily fluids.
Inosinic May be Vegan Flavor Enhancer - Almost always made from animals and fish.
Inositol May be Vegan A sugar-like dietary supplement. Present in almost all plant and animal tissues.
Insulin Never Vegan From hog pancreas. Used by millions of diabetics daily.
Isinglass Never Vegan Very pure form of gelatin obtained from the air bladders of some freshwater fishes.
Isopropyl May be Vegan Acid typically derived from nut oils but occasionally of animal origin.
Junket Never Vegan A dish of sweetened and flavored curds of milk, often served with fruit.
Katsuobushi Never Vegan Made from skipjack tuna or the bonito fish. Used as a topping or filling in many Japanese dishes.
Keratin Never Vegan Protein from the ground-up horns, hooves, feathers, quills, and hair of various animals.
Keratin Never Vegan Protein from the ground-up horns, hooves, feathers, quills, and hair of various animals.
L-cysteine Never Vegan Improving Agent - Produced commercially from animal and human hair (and feathers).
Lactate May be Vegan A type of salt derived from Lactic Acid, which can be obtained from whey or milk.
Lactic May be Vegan Typically derived from plants such as beets. When animal-derived, found in blood and muscle tissue.
Lactitol Never Vegan Sweetener - Derived from Lactose, commercially prepared using whey/milk.
Lactoflavin May be Vegan A food coloring. Can be produced from animal sources like beef, especially when marked as natural.
Lactose Never Vegan Milk sugar. A type of sugar only found in animal milk.
Lactylated May be Vegan Emulsifier - May contain animal fats.
Lamb Never Vegan Not vegan if sourced from a lamb/young sheep.
Laneth Never Vegan A product of the oil glands of sheep, extracted from their wool.
Lanogene Never Vegan A product of the oil glands of sheep, extracted from their wool.
Lanolate Never Vegan A product of the oil glands of sheep, extracted from their wool.
Lanolin Never Vegan Wax from sheep excreted by the skin of sheep and extracted from the wool.
Lanosterol Never Vegan A product of the oil glands of sheep, extracted from their wool.
Lard Never Vegan Fat from the abdomen of a pig that is rendered and clarified for use in cooking.
Leather Never Vegan Animal based unless labeled as faux or artificial.
Lecithin May be Vegan May contain egg yolks. Can also be directly obtained from animal fat or soy.
Linoleic Never Vegan An essential fatty acid. Used in cosmetics, vitamins.
Lipase May be Vegan Enzyme from the stomachs, tongue glands of calves, and lambs. Can be from plants, fungus or yeast.
Lipid May be Vegan Fat and fat-like substances that are found in animals and plants. Alternatives: vegetable oils.
Lipoid May be Vegan Fat and fat-like substances that are found in animals and plants. Alternatives: vegetable oils.
Lobster Never Vegan Lobster is not considered a vegan food.
Luna Never Vegan A plantlike animal used to make sponges.
Lutein May be Vegan Deep yellow coloring from marigolds or egg yolks. Typically found in commercial food coloring.
Lysozyme Never Vegan Enzyme - From eggs.
Magnesium May be Vegan Another type of salt derived from Lactic Acid, which can be obtained from whey or milk.
Mahi Never Vegan The mahi-mahi or common dolphinfish is a surface-dwelling ray-finned fish found in off-shore temperate, tropical, and subtropical waters worldwide.
Marine Never Vegan Likely from fish or marine mammals (including porpoises).
Mayo Never Vegan Almost certainly will contain eggs unless otherwise stated.
Meat Never Vegan Not vegan if originating from any animal.
Merling Never Vegan A common type of fish. Not a vegan friendly option.
Methionine Never Vegan Essential amino acid found in various proteins (usually from egg albumen and casein).
Milk Never Vegan Not vegan if derived from an animal. Check the ingredients.
Mink Never Vegan A weasel like rodent used in cosmetics, creams, and for their skin.
Mohair Never Vegan Hair taken from the angora goat.
Mollusc Never Vegan Mollusca is the second largest phylum of invertebrate animals. Not a vegan option.
Mono-Diglyceride May be Vegan Emulsifying agents in puddings, ice cream, bread etc. Can be derived from plants or animals.
Monoazo May be Vegan Coloring derived from coal tar. Sometimes filtered through bone char.
Monocalcium May be Vegan A salt found in rocks and bones. Used as an anti-caking agent.
Monodiacetyl May be Vegan May contain animal fat as it is derived from Glycerin/Glycerol.
Monodiglyceride May be Vegan Emulsifier - May contain animal fats.
Monoglyceride May be Vegan Often from animal fat but may be plant based. Check the label.
Monooleate May be Vegan Derived from animal or vegetable sources.
Monostearate May be Vegan Manufactured by reacting stearic acid with sorbitol to yield a mixture of esters.
Musk Never Vegan Dried genital secretion obtained from deer, beaver, muskrat, civet cat, otter, and other animals.
Mussel Never Vegan Mussels are animals belonging to the shellfish family. Not considered a vegan option.
Myristal May be Vegan Acid typically derived from nut oils but occasionally of animal origin.
Natural May be Vegan Ingredients are not synthetic or artificial, but extracted directly from plants or animal products
Niacin May be Vegan Used as a cholesterol treatment. In rare cases it can be derived from animal sources.
Nicotinic May be Vegan Used as a cholesterol treatment. In rare cases it can be derived from animal sources.
Nucleic Never Vegan In the nucleus of all living cells. Likely animal based.
Nutritional May be Vegan A food containing deactivated yeast. Often vegan, but some brands use animal products like whey.
Ocenol Never Vegan Found in oil derived from fish.
Octadecanoic Never Vegan Tallor and other animal fats and oils.
Octyl Never Vegan Mixture of solid waxy alcohols. Primarily from stearyl alcohol.
Oestrogen Never Vegan Female sex hormone from cow ovaries or pregnant mare urine.
Okaka Never Vegan Made from skipjack tuna or the bonito fish. Used as a topping or filling in many Japanese dishes.
Oleic May be Vegan Fatty acid occurring in animal and vegetable fats.
Oleinic Never Vegan Animal tallow/fat found in synthetic butter, cheese, some vegetable fats and oils, etc.
Oleostearin Never Vegan Solid obtained from pressed tallow.
Oleth Never Vegan Found in oil derived from fish.
Oleyl Never Vegan Found in oil derived from fish.
Organ May be Vegan Not vegan unless sourced from plants.
Ostrich Never Vegan An ostrich is a large flightless bird. Not a vegan food option.
Ox Never Vegan Ox or oxgall is sourced from bovines, which are often castrated. Typically used in creams.
Oxgall Never Vegan Oxgall. From castrated bovines. In creams.
Palmitamide May be Vegan A fatty acid most commonly derived from palm oil but may be derived from animals as well.
Palmitamine May be Vegan A fatty acid most commonly derived from palm oil but may be derived from animals as well.
Palmitate May be Vegan A fatty acid most commonly derived from palm oil but may be derived from animals as well.
Palmitic May be Vegan A fatty acid most commonly derived from palm oil but may be derived from animals as well.
Panthenol May be Vegan Can come from animal or plant sources or synthetics. In shampoos, supplements, emollients, etc.
Panthenyl May be Vegan Can come from animal or plant sources or synthetics. In shampoos, supplements, emollients, etc.
Paracasein Never Vegan The chemical product of the action of rennin or pepsin on casein.
Parchment May be Vegan Typically the skin of the sheep or goat, dressed and prepared for writing etc.
Pasta May be Vegan Some pasta noodles are made with eggs. Check the label or ask if vegan.
Pearl Never Vegan Pearl Essence: Obtained from scales of fish.
Pepsin Never Vegan Enzyme usually derived from the stomach of grown calves or sometimes pigs.
Pesto May be Vegan Many varieties contain Parmesan cheese.
Phosphatide May be Vegan Sometimes made using Glycerol. May come from animal fats.
Pig Never Vegan Pig, or pork, is not considered a vegan option.
Placenta Never Vegan Contains waste matter eliminated by the fetus. Derived from the uterus of slaughtered animals.
Pollen May be Vegan The primary food source for a bee hive. Produced for bees by bees.
Pollock Never Vegan Pollock is a fish. Not a vegan option.
Polyglycerol May be Vegan A byproduct of soap manufacture (normally uses animal fat).
Polyoxyethylene May be Vegan Emulsifier - May contain animal fats.
Polypeptide Never Vegan From animal protein. Used in cosmetics. Alternatives: plant proteins and enzymes.
Polyricinoleate May be Vegan A liquid which is a by-product of the soap-making process. Can be from animal fats or from sugars.
Polysorbate May be Vegan Derivatives of fatty acids, which are commonly sourced from animals. In cosmetics, foods.
Pork Never Vegan Pork, or pig, is not considered a vegan option.
Poultry Never Vegan Poultry is another name for domestic fowl, such as chickens, turkeys, ducks, and geese.
Pristane Never Vegan Obtained from the liver oil of sharks and from whale ambergris.
Progesterone Never Vegan A steroid hormone used in anti-wrinkle face creams. Alternatives: synthetics.
Propanediol May be Vegan Emulsifier - May contain animal fats.
Propolis Never Vegan Bee glue. Used by bees to stop up crevices and fix combs to the hive.
Propylene May be Vegan Emulsifier - May contain animal fats.
Provitamin May be Vegan A pigment found in animal tissues and plants. Typically plant based when used as an additive.
Puttanesca May be Vegan A pasta dish that often includes anchovies.
Qivuit Never Vegan The wool taken from the muskox.
Quail Never Vegan Quail is a mid-sized bird and is not considered a vegan option.
Quanternium Never Vegan Fat from cows, sheep, pigs, etc. Often refers to a fatty substance taken from the stomachs of pigs.
Quinoline May be Vegan May involve the use of gelatin as a carrier.
Rennet May be Vegan Extract usually obtained from a newly-born calf stomach. This can also be derived from synthetic sources or from bacteria and fungus.
Rennin May be Vegan Extract usually obtained from a newly-born calf stomach. This can also be derived from synthetic sources or from bacteria and fungus.
Resinous Never Vegan Glazing Agent - Glaze that comes from the hardened resinous material secreted by the lac insect.
Reticulin Never Vegan One of the structural elements (together with elastin and collagen) of skeletal muscle.
Retinol May be Vegan Vitamin A obtained from vegetables, egg yolks, or fish liver oil.
Riboflavin May be Vegan May contain milk.
Ribonucleic May be Vegan RNA is in all living cells. Used in many protein shampoos and cosmetics. Alternatives: plant cells.
RNA May be Vegan RNA is in all living cells. Used in many protein shampoos and cosmetics. Alternatives: plant cells.
Royal May be Vegan A honey bee secretion that is used in the nutrition of larvae, as well as adult queens.
Sable Never Vegan From the fur, or other parts of sables (weasel-like mammals).
Saccharum Never Vegan Milk sugar. Used as a culture medium for souring milk and in processed foods.
Salmon Never Vegan Salmon is a kind of fish. Not considered a vegan food.
Saltpetre May be Vegan Usually assumed to be of natural origins but it can be manufactured from animals.
Scale Never Vegan Used in shimmery makeups (eye, etc.). Alternatives: mica, rayon.
Scallop Never Vegan Scallops are a kind of shellfish and are not considered to be a vegan option.
Seafood Never Vegan Seafood is any form of sea life regarded as food by humans. Not a vegan option if from an animal.
Shark Never Vegan Products that are derived from shark flesh, meat, or tissue are not vegan.
Sheep Never Vegan Sheep are not considered a vegan option.
Shellac Never Vegan Glazing Agent - From a resin secreted by an insect called the lac beetle.
Shortening Never Vegan Most shortening is animal based and is made from butter, suet, and/or lard.
Shrimp Never Vegan Shrimp is not considered a vegan food.
Silk Never Vegan Silk is the fiber made by silkworms. They are boiled in their cocoons to get silk.
Skin Never Vegan Animal based unless labeled as faux or artificial.
Snail Never Vegan Snails are small gastropods. They are typically crushed for cosmetic or for escargot.
Solvent May be Vegan Sweetener - Mostly from animal fats, unless otherwise stated.
Sorbitan May be Vegan From stearic acid. Stearic acid is found in both vegetable and animal fats.
Sperm Never Vegan A waxy and oily reproductive substance derived from animals.
Spermaceti Never Vegan Waxy oil derived from whale heads or from dolphins but now most often derived from petroleum.
Sponge Never Vegan A plantlike sea animal used to make sponges.
Squalane Never Vegan Oil derived from shark livers.
Squalene Never Vegan Oil derived from shark livers.
Squid Never Vegan Squid is a sea animal and is not considered to be a vegan food.
Stearamide May be Vegan When animal-derived, a fat from cows, pigs, and sheep, etc. May also be of plant origin.
Stearamine May be Vegan When animal-derived, a fat from cows, pigs, and sheep, etc. May also be of plant origin.
Stearate May be Vegan Salt of stearic acid. An emulsifier and/or stabilizer.
Stearic May be Vegan Fat from cows, pigs, sheep, dogs or cats. Can be obtained from vegetable sources.
Stearin Never Vegan Fat from cows, sheep, pigs, etc. Often refers to a fatty substance taken from the stomachs of pigs.
Stearone May be Vegan When animal-derived, a fat from cows, pigs, and sheep, etc. May also be of plant origin.
Stearoxytrimethylsilane May be Vegan When animal-derived, a fat from cows, pigs, and sheep, etc. May also be of plant origin.
Stearoyl May be Vegan When animal-derived, a fat from cows, pigs, and sheep, etc. May also be of plant origin.
Stearyl Never Vegan Often prepared from stearic acid. Typically a fat from cows, pigs, and sheep, etc.
Stearyldimethyl Never Vegan Often prepared from stearic acid. Typically a fat from cows, pigs, and sheep, etc.
Steroid May be Vegan May be from various animal glands or from plant tissues.
Sterol Never Vegan May be from various animal glands or from plant tissues.
Sucralose Never Vegan Known as Splenda. Produced from cane sugar and tested on animals. May be filtered through bone char.
Sucroglyceride May be Vegan Emulsifier - May be derived from animals.
Sucrose May be Vegan Sugar - Some sugars are processed through boneblack.
Suede Never Vegan Animal based unless labeled as faux or artificial.
Suet Never Vegan Hard white fat around kidneys and loins of animals.
Sugar May be Vegan A sweet material that consists of sucrose. Some sugars are processed through boneblack.
Tallow Never Vegan Solid fat of sheep and cattle separated from the membranous tissues. Typically found in margarine.
Tallowate Never Vegan A soap made by combining the fatty tissue of animals.
Talloweth May be Vegan Rendered beef fat.
Tartaric May be Vegan May contain animal fat as it is derived from Glycerin/Glycerol.
Tartrate May be Vegan Made from stearyl alcohol and tartaric acid. May be from an animal or a vegetable.
Tartrazine May be Vegan A coloring that can be from plant, animal and synthetic sources.
Taurine May be Vegan Found in the bile of mammals. Can be, but not likely, plant based.
Testosterone May be Vegan A male hormone typically produced from animals but sometimes from plants.
Trehalose May be Vegan A sugar synthesized by some animals, fungi, bacteria, and plants.
Triacetin Never Vegan Also known as glyceryl triacetate. A pharmaceutical excipient used in the making of pills.
Tricalcium May be Vegan A mineral salt found in rocks and bones. The tribasic form of calcium phosphate.
Trioleate May be Vegan Derived from animal or vegetable sources.
Tristearate May be Vegan Derived from animal or vegetable sources.
Triterpene Never Vegan A product of the oil glands of sheep, extracted from their wool.
Trypsin Never Vegan Enzyme usually derived from porcine pancreas.
Tuna Never Vegan Tuna is obtained from the tuna fish. Not a vegan food option.
Turkey Never Vegan Turkey is not considered a vegan food.
Tyrosine May be Vegan Amino acid often of plant or synthetic origin but sometimes hydrolyzed from casein (milk).
Urea May be Vegan Typically synthetic. When extracted from animals, it is excreted from urine and other bodily fluids.
Uric May be Vegan Typically synthetic. When extracted from animals, it is excreted from urine and other bodily fluids.
Veal Never Vegan The flesh of cow calves that have been raised in conditions that prevent the development of muscle.
Vellum May be Vegan Fine parchment typically prepared from the skins of calves, lambs or goats.
Velvet May be Vegan Fabric made usually of silk but also rayon or nylon.
Vitamin May be Vegan Likely animal based but may be plant based. Check the label to verify the source of the ingredient.
Vitellus Never Vegan Vitellus is the yolk of an egg. Not a vegan friendly option.
Volaise Never Vegan Ostrich meat.
Wax Never Vegan Typically produced from shellac (lac bug secretion) or beeswax.
Whey Never Vegan The watery part of milk that remains after the formation of curds.
Whiting Never Vegan A common type of fish. Not a vegan friendly option.
Wool Never Vegan Hair forming the fleecy coat of the domesticated sheep (and similar animals).
Worcestershire Never Vegan Many varieties of Worcestershire sauce contain anchovies. Check the ingredients to be sure.
Xanthan May be Vegan Gum produced from corn sugar. Sometimes purified using chicken lysozyme or fermentation of whey.
Yoghurt May be Vegan Likely produced by bacterial fermentation of milk. Check if the milk used is plant based.
Yogurt May be Vegan Most yogurts are produced by bacterial fermentation of milk. Check if the milk used is plant based.
Yolk Never Vegan This product may contain egg yolk. Check the ingredients to be sure.
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