When you first go vegan, avoiding meat, dairy, and eggs feels straightforward. Then you start reading labels and realise animal-derived ingredients turn up in the strangest places. This guide covers the 12 most common hidden animal ingredients on UK food labels.
Our ingredient analysis engine checks for over 80 animal-derived ingredients and 30+ UK E-numbers automatically.
From animal bones and skin. In sweets (Haribo, Wine Gums, marshmallows), yoghurts (Müller Corner), desserts, jelly, some medications. See our E-numbers guide.
Red dye from crushed insects. In red sweets, yoghurts, drinks. Search any product and we'll flag it.
Insect secretion used as a glaze on sweets, chocolate, fruit, tablets.
Dairy derivatives in crisps, bread, chocolate, protein bars, sauces. Look for "whey", "casein", "caseinate".
Fish swim bladder fining agent in beer and wine. Not on labels (processing aid). Check Barnivore.com for drinks.
Usually from lanolin (sheep's wool). In cereals, orange juice, plant milks, bread. D2 is always vegan.
In cereals (Crunchy Nut, granolas), bread, sauces, snack bars. Paste ingredients into our analyser.
Dough improver from animal hair or feathers. Most UK brands use synthetic. See our bread guide.
Could be plant or animal. Our tool flags these as "maybe".
Milk sugar in crisps, medications, sauces.
Worcestershire sauce contains anchovies. Henderson's Relish (Sheffield) is the vegan alternative.
Calf stomach enzyme in most hard cheeses. Parmesan always uses animal rennet by law.
Our ingredient engine checks for all of these and dozens more — automatically, in seconds.
Check a product now →Look for the Vegan Society sunflower trademark. Or scan the barcode. For E-numbers, read our complete guide.