Most soft drinks are vegan. Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Sprite, Dr Pepper, and dozens of other popular sodas contain zero animal ingredients. You can drink them without worry. But "most" isn't "all." A handful of drinks use ingredients like cochineal (a red dye made from crushed insects), vitamin D3 from sheep's wool, or dairy-based flavorings that disqualify them. Some fall into a gray area depending on how strictly you define vegan. This guide covers the biggest soda and soft drink brands, flags the ones that aren't vegan, and breaks down the specific ingredients you should watch for on labels. If you want the deep dive on any individual drink, we've linked to our full breakdowns throughout. Which Soft Drinks Are Vegan? The...

Haribo gummy bears are not vegan. Gelatin is the third ingredient on the label, and it's made from animal bones and cartilage. The bears also contain beeswax. If you're sticking to a plant-based diet, you'll need to look elsewhere. The good news: several vegan gummy bear brands use pectin instead of gelatin, and they taste just as good. So, Are Haribo Gummy Bears Vegan? Gummy bears are a popular candy, and Haribo is one of the most well-known brands for this type of candy. However, just because a brand is a classic or is very well-known doesn't mean it's right for your diet. It's important to take a close look at all food labels to make sure they're vegan. Unfortunately...

Tater tots are one of those foods that seem obviously vegan. Potatoes, oil, salt. Done. But depending on the brand and how they're cooked, a few sneaky ingredients can show up. Here's what to look for and which brands are safe. What's In Tater Tots? Tater tots in their most basic form are pieces of minced or shredded potato that have been seasoned, formed into nuggets, and fried. But are tater tots vegan? The first question that is easily answered by anyone preparing tater tots is to find what oils are being used to cook them. It's easy to find out if the frying (or baking) method uses vegetable or animals fats, so avoiding the issue of consuming those products...

Most peppermints look vegan on the label. But several popular brands hide gelatin, dairy, or animal-derived stearic acid in the fine print. Here's which peppermint brands are safe and which ones to skip. Are Peppermints Vegan? Vegan Peppermint Brands Not all peppermints are created equal. Here are the brands you can feel good about grabbing. YumEarth Organic Wild Peppermint YumEarth is certified vegan by The Vegan Society, USDA Organic, and free from the top 9 allergens. The ingredients are organic cane sugar, organic brown rice syrup, and natural peppermint oil. The organic sugar is never processed with bone char. If you want zero gray area, this is the safest pick. Simply Mints Peppermint Three ingredients: cane sugar, peppermint oil, calcium...

Nesquik was a childhood staple for a lot of us. That chocolatey powder mixed into a cold glass of milk (or almond milk, these days) hits different when nostalgia kicks in. But if you are vegan, the ingredient label tells a different story. Sugar processing and a vitamin called biotin are the two biggest red flags. Here is why Nesquik does not make the cut, and what to drink instead. Nesquik Ingredients sugar cocoa (processed with alkali) soy lecithin carrageenan salt natural flavor spice vitamins and minerals: sodium ascorbate (vitamin C), ferric pyrophosphate (Iron), niacinimide, zinc oxide, thiamin hydrochloride, copper gluconate, manganese sulfate, and biotin At first glance this list may seem innocent. Unfortunately, the first offender is sugar. Although,...

Sprite has been around since 1961, and it is still one of the most popular sodas on the planet. If you follow a vegan lifestyle, the good news is that Sprite's ingredient list is pretty straightforward. No gelatin, no dyes, no obvious animal products. But is it really that simple? Let's look at what is actually in the can. Is Sprite Vegan? The lack of animal products or animal product derivatives in the manufacturing and production of the Sprite recipe is what would make this a vegan-friendly drink. Keep in mind, however, that veganism is not just about eating: it is a lifestyle devoid of any item, food, or service related in any way to the use of animals for...

Life Savers mints seem like they should be vegan. The ingredient list is short and mostly recognizable. But one item buried near the bottom of the label changes everything. Stearic acid, the ingredient that keeps the mint compacted, is often sourced from animal fat. Here is the full breakdown of what is in Life Saver mints and why they fall short. Life Saver Mint Ingredients Sugar Corn syrup High fructose corn syrup High fructose corn syrup Citric acid Red 40, Yellow 5, Blue 1 Natural and artificial flavors Stearic acid This basically shows a typical candy recipe: sugar, a variety of corn syrups, some high fructose, citric acid for flavoring plus additional flavor varieties, and coloring to make the product...

Jelly Belly jelly beans are one of the most popular candy brands in the world, showing up in candy bowls, Easter baskets, and movie theaters everywhere. But if you follow a vegan diet, you might be wondering whether these colorful little beans are safe to eat. The short answer: Jelly Bellys are not vegan. Here is why they miss the mark and what you can grab instead. So, Are Jelly Bellys Vegan? Jelly Bellys are coated with beeswax and shellac to give them their appealing shine. Beeswax is an animal product, and most vegans avoid it because they believe that collecting beeswax from hives is cruel. Shellac, on the other hand, is made from secreted beetle resin. When humans collect the...

As more people commit to health and fitness, sports drinks stay popular, and Gatorade is still the one most shoppers reach for first. If you are vegan, the key question is simple: does Gatorade contain animal-derived ingredients, or is it safe to keep in your post-workout routine? This guide gives you the quick answer plus ingredient context so you can decide fast in-store. What are Sports Drinks? What makes a drink a “sports drink” anyway?  According to WebMD, sports drinks are used to replace your body’s water and electrolytes that are lost when you sweat during exercise.  Electrolytes are substances such as potassium, sodium, calcium, and magnesium that help regulate your body’s fluid levels.  Sports drinks also often contain carbohydrates...

There are a lot of rumors about Monster Energy ingredients online, and the brand has not always made those ingredient questions easy to decode at a glance. Some ingredient names look unfamiliar, which is usually where the vegan confusion starts for people who just want a clear yes or no answer. The good news is Monster is vegan. If you want alternatives, check out these healthier vegan energy drinks, or keep reading for the full breakdown. Monster Energy Drinks Ingredients The ingredients in Monster are what you might expect to find in an energy drink. For more tips, see is gatorade vegan. carbonated water sucrose glucose citric acid natural flavors taurine sodiu citrate color added panax ginseng root extract L-carnitine...