The 'meat-free' foods that contain SECRET animal products (2024)

Think bananas, figs and miso soup are perfect foods for vegetarians? Think again.

A range of foods, from fruit and packaged cereal to beer and even figs, are assumed to be safe to eat, yet an expert warns that these items can contain animal products.

What is more worrying for vegetarians and vegans is that ingredients lists on packages might list product names, but not what's in them, like the food colouring carmine that is derived from crushed beetles, while few would realise that the pesticides used to spray bananas can contain shellfish.

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Vegan campaigner Karin Ridgers, founder ofVeggieVision TV, insists that vegetarians should do their homework before eating anything.

Ms Ridgers told MailOnline: 'Read the list of ingredients, and if you are not sure what the ingredient actually is, just research it. You will then know forever.

'I never eat anything unless I can read the ingredients; there are a lot of non-veggie ingredients that I feel everyone would want to avoid, vegetarian or not.'

She added that only way to know if a packaged item is meat-free is if it has an official label.

'Ingredients lists frequently change so always cast an eye over them before buying and keep a look out for The Vegetarian Society approved symbol, The Vegan Society registered symbol or the Viva! Symbol as these products have passed testing to confirm that they are vegetarian-/vegan-friendly,' she said.

Here is a list of the foods you could order in a restaurant, a bar, or in your deli - as well as at the supermarket - that contain stealth animal products.

MISO SOUP

While it might contain tofu, a staple in many vegetarians' diet, miso soup, more often than not, is made with dashi (water, dried, kelp and fish flakes), the backbone of most Japanese cuisine.

Dashi is what gives miso soup, and most other Japanese soups, its strong umami flavour.

PARMESAN

It's a little known fact but Parmigiano-Reggiano or Parmesan, is not considered authentic unless it is made with animal rennet – which comes from the stomach lining of calves.

This is a strict regulation which denotes that a cheese is actually Parmesan. Calves' rennet also appears in Pecorino Romano, Grana Padano and Gorgonzola.

FIGS

A surprising addition to this list. While figs themselves are not meat, they may contain insects such as dead wasps in them.

This happens when a wasp pollinates a fig and gets stuck inside the fruit and dies there.

However, when you do bite into the fig, you won't be able to see the dead wasp contained within as an enzyme in the fruit converts the wasp into protein.

BANANAS

Always buy organic as non-organic bananas are sprayed with a pesticide which may contain animal parts.

According to Science Daily, the pesticide Chitosan, which fights bacteria and prevents bananas from over-ripening, is made from shrimp and crab shells.

So although, like figs, the banana itself is still a fruit, the compound used to extend its life is made from animal matter.

Want to be safe? Go organic.

YOGURT

These, especially the non-fat versions such as Muller Light, contain gelatine to add a creamier, richer texture.

Vegetarians are advised to read the label carefully before buying a new brand.

A spokesperson from Müller told MailOnline:'We offer consumers a range of products, from healthier fat free, low-calorie options to thick and creamy, indulgent desserts.

'All of the nutrition information and ingredients, including gelatine, are displayed on pack so consumers can make the best choice for them.'

GUINNESS

Isinglass or fish bladder is used as part of the filtering process in some beers and stouts.

Because the amount used is so minute, the item itself is not listed as part of the ingredients.

The isinglass filters out leftover yeast particles which otherwise will cause the beer to appear cloudy.

A spokesperson from Guinness told MailOnline: 'Isinglass is a by-product of the fishing industry. We use Isinglass in the production of Guinness as a fining agent to help remove yeast from the beer.

'While the brewing process removes the vast majority or all of the Isinglass, we accept that some minor traces of Isinglass may remain in the finished product.

'We are currently trying to evaluate the reputational impact of Isinglass on our brand and product and whether investment should be made to remove this element from our brewing process.'

RED SWEETS

Red sweets or any other foods which are coloured with a natural red dye will more often than not contain animal products.

Carmine, which is made from dead crushed up beetles, comes about when the insects are boiled with sodium carbonate or ammonia, which then produces the attractive, bright red dye.

WORCESTERSHIRE SAUCE

A condiment which finds its way into many foods and drinks (Bloody Mary, anyone?) Worcestershire Sauce is made from anchovies.

Like the dashi in miso, the fish in the sauce gives it an umami flavour, which is what gives food a more-ish savoury taste.

ORANGE JUICE

Any orange juice claiming to be 'heart healthy' is the real culprit here. Those claims often mean the juice contains Omega-3 fatty acids which come from fish oils.

If an orange juice declares that it contains Omega-3s, vegetarians should check where they come from.

BREAKFAST CEREALS

There are a number of sugar-coated cereals on the market which contain beef gelatine, extracted from the skin, bones and connective tissues of animals.

Kellogg's Frosted Wheats, for instance, has beef gelatine in it to make the sugar stick to the cereal.

The protein is made from boiling animal parts in water and appears as a binding agent in many products.

READY-MADE PIE AND PASTRY CRUSTS

These are often made with lard, rendered pig fat, rather than butter, which is a dairy product, as the former costs considerably less than the latter, and has a longer shelf-life.

MARSHMALLOWS

Traditionally made with powdered marshmallow root, most commercially manufactured products now used gelatine, in their recipes.

The collagen-rich mixture is what gives the sweet its firm and bouncy texture.

PESTO

Unless there is a clear 'Vegetarian' symbol on the bottle, pesto, while it may seem like the ideal veggie-friendly product, actually isn't.

The basil and pine nut sauce often contains contains Pecorino Romano and Grana Padano, both which, are made with the stomach lining of calves.

A spokesperson for Sacla told MailOnline: 'Our classic basil pesto contains Grano Padano, a traditional Italian cheese which is made with animal products. The pesto is made using traditional Italian ingredients.

'However we are aware of people who are vegetarian so that’s why we developed two pestos which are suitable for veggies.

'One is our organic pesto, and we recently launched free-from gluten and dairy pesto which hit the shelves in March and that is suitable for vegetarians and vegans.'

Ms Ridgers said: 'Take reasonability for your plate; no one else will and vote with your wallet.

'Pick organic and more natural products without scary ingredients, visit your local health food store and chat with the manager.

'They will appreciate the support and explore a whole new world of food with veggie and vegan-friendly ingredients.'

MailOnline has contacted Kelloggs for comment.