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Attention, Animal Ingredients are Hidden Here!

Many products that we would classify as vegetarian contain animal ingredients, hidden as abbreviations in the fine print. Vegetarians and vegans should carefully study the ingredients of these products!

Carefully studying the ingredient list of ready meals and highly processed products is a must for vegetarians and vegans. Because animal ingredients are often hidden in apparently vegetarian products, as our list shows.

Fruit gum does not only contain gelatine

Gummy bears and Co. often contain gelatine – no secret for vegetarians and vegans. But there can be even more in red gummy bears: carmine is the name of the red dye obtained from scale insects. If you do not want to eat animal products, you should look out for the abbreviation “E120” in the list of ingredients of a product – behind it hides a carmine. Since the production of the red dye is quite complex, carmine is being produced more and more synthetically; At the moment, however, the following still applies: Keep your eyes open when buying products that draw attention to themselves with their beautiful red color. Dairy products, juices, and of course a lot of other sweets can also contain carmine.

Cheese: rennet from calves’ stomachs

A specific mixture of enzymes, rennet, is needed for the milk to curdle and make cheese. What many people don’t know is that rennet is traditionally obtained from the stomachs of young calves. To do this, the gastric mucosa is chopped up and the necessary enzymes are chemically extracted.

The good news: only 35 percent of cheese worldwide is still made with natural rennet (source: Vegetarian Association). As an alternative, enzymes from molds are used. Unfortunately, the cheese packaging does not state whether the rennet is natural or synthetic. A prominent example of a cheese that is still made from calf rennet is the Parmigiano Reggiano or Parmesan. Vegetarians will find Parmesan substitutes under the name “hard cheese”, for example, Alnatura’s “Montello”. If you want to be sure, ask the manufacturer directly.

Chips: lactose and a lot of undeclared

Many crisps not only contain lactose, but also a whole lot of animal products. A large chip producer told the organization Foodwatch that large parts of its range contain animal ingredients, depending on the variety, game, fish, poultry, beef, or pork. This does not have to be stated in the list of ingredients. Because if animal components are used as carriers for flavors and vitamins in the food, they, unfortunately, do not have to be declared under current law.

Peta made a list of vegan kibbles which you can check out here.

Baked goods: Supple thanks to L-cysteine ​​from bristles and feathers

To make flour easier to knead, the addition of L-cysteine ​​is often used in the bakery. This amino acid, which bears the abbreviation E 920, is made from pig bristles and bird feathers. According to current German law, E 920 must be declared on the packaging of baked goods. However, this case law is interpreted differently: “Wissensforum Backwaren e.V. comes to the conclusion that the addition of L-cysteine ​​in flour on packaged bread is not subject to labeling,” says the website www.lebensmittelklarheit.de. The labeling obligation does not apply to rolls sold loose anyway. Vegetarians and vegans, therefore, have to ask their trusted baker. Fortunately, quite a few chains now have vegan bread and vegan rolls on offer.

Wine and vinegar

It is now known that gelatine or proteins from the fish bladder are used in wine production. This method is also used for balsamic vinegar. However, many winegrowers now rely on vegetable proteins to clarify their wines. Vinegar can also be filtered through bentonite, silica, or fine filter paper, for example. Unfortunately, a reference to gelatine as a filtering agent on the packaging is not mandatory. If you are unsure whether a dash of vinegar is vegan or not, it is worth asking the manufacturer directly.

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health

Vitamin B in Food: It is Contained Here

Vitamin B is found in many foods that should be part of a healthy diet. You can find out here which different B vitamins there are, what we need them for and how to avoid a deficiency.

Vitamin B plays an important role in metabolism and blood formation. There are eight different B vitamins in total. These are not consecutively numbered. This is because substances were repeatedly referred to as B vitamins that were ultimately not vitamins. Therefore, the group of B vitamins ranges from vitamin B1 to vitamin B12.

With the exception of B12, vitamin B is found in many plant-based foods. In this way, you can easily cover your need for the first seven B vitamins as part of a vegan diet.

Vitamin B1, B2 and B3 in food

Vitamin B1 is also known as thiamine and is particularly important for the breakdown of carbohydrates. The daily requirement for adults is one to 1.3 milligrams. It is found in large amounts in the husks and germs of grain. If you eat enough whole grain products, you don’t have to worry about a thiamine deficiency. Potatoes and legumes are also good sources.
Vitamin B2 is also known as riboflavin and plays an essential role in various metabolic and growth processes. The daily requirement for adults is one to 1.4 milligrams. Again, whole grains are a good source. In addition, riboflavin is found in relatively high amounts in many animal products, but also in nuts and some vegetables (such as broccoli, asparagus, spinach and mushrooms).
Vitamin B3, also known as niacin or nicotinic acid, is also involved in many metabolic processes. It also helps keep our skin and mucous membranes healthy. The daily requirement is eleven to 16 milligrams. Vitamin B3 is also found in high amounts in animal foods. Whole grain products, legumes, mushrooms, nuts and seeds, and some types of fruit and vegetables are important sources for vegans.

Vitamins B5 and B6

Another B vitamin is pantothenic acid or vitamin B5. Vitamin B5 is also involved in energy metabolism and, together with other vitamins, ensures a functioning immune system. The daily requirement is six milligrams. Since this vitamin B is also found in almost all foods, it is not difficult to reach this value. In this case, particularly good sources are whole grain products, nuts, vegetables and animal products such as eggs and milk.
Vitamin B6 is also known as pyridoxine. In addition to the metabolism (especially of protein), it affects the hormone balance and is important for the nervous system. The daily requirement is between 1.4 and 1.6 milligrams. Vitamin B6 is also found in most foods. It is particularly abundant in green vegetables, whole grain products, legumes, potatoes, nuts, as well as dairy products, eggs, meat and fish.

Vitamin B in food: biotin and folic acid

You can also find vitamin B7 under the names vitamin H and biotin. In addition to its great importance for the metabolism, it is significantly involved in cell formation, as well as DNA and protein synthesis. It also promotes healthy skin and hair growth. The daily requirement is 30 to 60 micrograms and is reached quickly, since biotin is also found in a large number of foods. Egg yolks, legumes, nuts, oats, whole grains, vegetables (e.g. spinach) and fruit (e.g. apples and bananas) are particularly rich in this B vitamin.
Vitamin B9 is usually just referred to as folic acid or folate. It is particularly involved in blood formation and cell division. It also plays a crucial role in embryonic and early childhood development. Women who want to have children should therefore ensure that they are getting enough folic acid before they become pregnant. The daily requirement of folic acid for adults is about 300 micrograms. This value is almost twice as high for pregnant women. Folic acid is found in high amounts in green leafy vegetables such as lamb’s lettuce or spinach, as well as in beetroot, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, whole grain products, nuts, egg yolks and other animal products.

Get vitamin B12 from food

With vitamin B12 or cobalamin, the group of B vitamins is complete. It is very important for the formation of new blood cells, cell division, gene metabolism and the health of our nerve cells. Unlike other vitamins, vitamin B12 cannot be absorbed directly through the intestines. It must first combine with a substance from the gastric mucosa, the so-called intrinsic factor.

Since people over the age of 60 generally produce less stomach acid, they are particularly susceptible to a deficiency. The recommended daily dose of four micrograms is therefore sometimes not enough. In this case, it may be necessary to supplement B12 under medical supervision.

Since biologically usable cobalamin is found almost exclusively in animal products, vegans should also supplement B12. As part of a vegetarian diet, you can get B12 from dairy products and eggs. However, there can also be an undersupply here. It is therefore best to have your blood values ​​checked regularly.

If you want to supplement B12, you can resort to capsules, drops, or an occasional B12 injection by healthcare professionals. B12 is also found in very small amounts in fermented products and some types of algae. However, this is by no means sufficient to cover the daily requirement.

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