Everybody has their own causes and issues that are important to them. We get it. And we respect it. Abstaining from animal products for moral, health, or any other reasons is your prerogative. But not everything you’ve been eating may be animal free.

1) Beer and Wine

This one is the most upsetting. You’ve committed yourself to the cause; you deserve a pat on the back and a drink. Guinness and many other alcoholic beverages use isinglass (fish bladders) to filter out unwanted residue in the brewing process. If fish bladders aren’t unwanted residues, we’re not sure what is.

2) Soy Cheese

Nothing says vegan like soy, right? Wrong. Some cheeses use caseine, a protein which comes from milk, to give their cheeses their cheese-like flavors and textures. Seems counterintuitive to us.

3) Potato Chips

One would assume that a simple chip would be merely potato and flavoring. That’s true, but just be aware that some of the flavorings and additives come from pig and chicken extracts.

4) Refried Beans

Woe unto you, oh vegan Mexican food lover! That chili or bean burrito most likely contains hydrogenated lard or pig fat. Thankfully, Taco Bell’s beans do not.

5) Bagels

Bagels are made from bread, grains, and yeast, so what’s the last thing you would expect them to contain? If you said bird feathers (which we’re sure you didn’t), you’re correct as most have the enzyme L. Cysteine which is used in formulating the dough.

6) Packaged Peanuts

It’s interesting to think about how many products that are naturally vegetarian or vegan have animal parts added to them. Many packaged peanuts (and other packages products) unfortunately contain gelatin, which is made from the collagen of animals.

7) Orange Juice

Who said nothing goes together like fish and a glass of OJ? Oh yeah, no one ever. But if you’re a fan of Tropicana or some other brands, your juice is probably enhanced with Omega-3’s, which come from fish oil.

8) White Sugar

Most sugar packets list one ingredient on them: sugar. But the process of refining sugar and getting it snow white involves bone char which is exactly what it sounds like, charred animal bones. Look for unrefined sugar as an alternative.

9) Enhanced Breads

Like orange juice, any bread that has Omega-3 added to it has fish in it. Many breads also contain other non-vegan ingredients like milk, eggs, and whey.

10) Marshmallows

What camping trip would be complete without s’mores? A vegan-friendly one, as it turns out. Marshmallows contain gelatin, the ubiquitous animal product found in many candied sweets.

11) Worcestershire Sauce

So much flavor in such a tiny bottle. One of those flavors comes from anchovies, however. There are brands that don’t use anchovies, although I’m not quite sure what you would use the sauce for, besides a big meaty steak.

12) Jello

What else would Jello have as an ingredient, but gelatin? The animal product strikes again and ruins another potential vegan snack. Gelatin is what gives Jello its wobbly consistency.

13) Margarine

While the healthiness of margarine was always questionable, vegans need a buttery spread, too! However, margarine usually has casein, whey, and gelatin added to its mostly vegetable oil base.

14) Cake Mix

While cake mix has never proclaimed to be vegan (vegetarian, yes), it does contain an unappetizing and surprising ingredient, beef fat! Just keep that in mind at the next birthday party you attend.

15) Soda

We shouldn’t be over-consuming soda anyway, but many contain a small asterisk on the ingredient list that states “natural flavoring from animal and plant products.”

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