One of the reasons I first decided to be a vegetarian—and then eventually vegan—was the thought of an animal suffering to produce a completely unnecessary end product deeply disgusted and saddened me. I wanted to know more about things like factory farming and cosmetic testing, but this required seeing disturbing images and reading about practices that left me feeling angry and completely helpless about the amount of cruelty and waste I observed. So I eventually stopped with all of that and focused instead on vegan cooking.
Becoming an ethical vegan for me, then, was a decision based purely on emotion. When I select vegan literature to read, I am drawn to titles that are written in a purely neutral and intellectual way, as it allows me to focus on the facts at hand—opposed to angering me to the point where inaction is the end result.
Veganissimo A to Z: A Comprehensive Guide to Identifying and Avoiding Ingredients of Animal Origin in Everyday Products by Reuben Proctor and Lars Thomsen, is the kind of book that appeals to me, as it provides a solid set of facts and a call to action by promoting conscious consumerism. They achieve this by outlining and describing the hidden animal products that permeate our daily lives in likely and unlikely products like cosmetics, LCD computer screens, explosives, medications, plant fertilizers, nutritional supplements and detergents, to name a few.
As I scanned through the book, my first thought was: do I have to inventory all of my belongings and remove them accordingly in order to be vegan … or a veganissimo? I initially thought yes, but after reading through it a few more times, I understood the authors’ intent here, which is to empower readers of the book to identify and therefore reduce their reliance on hidden animal products. The eventual effect of this is a lowered demand for them, thereby potentially eliminating their cruel and unnecessary production practices.
This book is well-thought out and nicely organized. Veganissimo presents ingredients that are listed alphabetically, accompanied by a symbol that clearly shows whether an ingredient is animal-, vegetable-, synthetic-, mineral- or microbiological-based. The reader can therefore quickly decipher that Potassium Undecylenoyl Hydrolyzed Collagen is animal derived, Zea Mays Silk Extract is completely vegetable-based and Montan Acid Wax is a synthetic product. A full list of vegan, organic and non-GMO logos are included, with detailed descriptions of what they each mean. Veganissimo also includes a a section that provides vegan alternatives to common animal products.
Because I found the concept of the book to be so fascinating in its approach, I am excited that the publisher, The Experiment, is offering a free copy of it through this blog post. If you’d like a chance to win the copy, just include as a comment below a seemingly harmless ingredient or product you have discovered not to be vegan. For example, I learned recently that photography paper almost always contains gelatin. Or, if you’d like, just pin the cover of this book to Pinterest, and tell me you did in a comment. Or do both!
Please leave your email or some way to contact you in your comment in case you are the winner. I’ll use random.org to draw and announce the winner on Sunday, March 10. (Shipping is limited to the US only.)
UPDATE: The winner of the drawing is Bobbie {the vegan crew}. Congrats Bobbie!
And, if you like, follow the book’s publisher, The Experiment, on Facebook and Twitter for regular updates and news.
lauren atchison says
my favorite cereal, frosted mini-wheats, now a thing of the past, due to gelatin in the frosted coating 🙁 loolai@aol.com
erinwyso says
I have the same gripe about pop tarts with the icing/coating on them — gelatin? and why? no thanks!
Simba's Mom says
I found out these breath strips I was using had gelatin
julie@thesimpleveganista says
I started my vegan journey for health reasons but that quickly changed when I saw the amount of horrific suffering…my empathy button turned on full throttle and there was no turning back! From foods to cosmetics and other seemingly harmless ingredients…it's progress not perfection to start with like you say. What a great book, I think I'll pick one up for myself. May vegans one day be the dominant culture. Thank you for enlightening me with the book review and all the great foods you share. 🙂
Tina says
I LOVE wine and discovered my favorite chardonnay, Toasted Head, is not vegan, so I've switched to Kendall Jackson, which is!
Anonymous says
For me, the big discovery was methods to make wine. I was shocked to learn how many wines are not vegan and am very grateful to have a winery down the street from me that I know is vegan since I've talked to the owners about their methodology. I pinned the book cover; it sounds like a great resource. Wish I could enter the giveaway, but I'm not going to leave my e-mail address in the open for anyone to grab, and I don't have any of the other accounts in your dropdown since I'm not a blogger (or google user).
erinwyso says
Anonymous — thanks for your comment! If you want, feel free to send me your email address at erinwyso [at] olivesfordinner [dot] com, and I'll be sure to email you if you are chosen via random.org as the winner.
janet @ the taste space says
This is so timely. I just put together a post about vegan lip balms but had a hard time decipherhing whether my favourite balms from C.O. Bigelow were vegan since they had so many ingredients I was unfamiliar with (beeswax is easy to spot in an ingredient list). I really have started to appreciate the simple all-natural balms. I find they work better, too!
ann says
My biggest disappointment was to find that Oreos in France are not vegan. Although maybe I should be thankful, since its pretty hard to find a redeeming quality in an Oreo…. 😉
ez says
I thought it was disappointing that non-dairy creamer is not vegan
Marisa says
The vitamin C we bought at Costco. It contains carmine. I was gobsmacked. Why in the world would you ruin vitamins for me, Costco??? I mean, yeah, I can get them elsewhere and vegan, but I am right there, happy not to have to make another trip. Disappoint!
Laura Hernandez says
Starbucks mocha fraps are powdered with milk 🙁
Dan's Animal Free says
Natural flavors always trip me up. Also foods that say "may contain milk." What the heck? Do they or don't they?
M+A says
Gelatin in vitamins/medications and casein in "non-dairy" items. Yuck!
Vegan in Boston says
I was shocked when I learned that many tires have animal byproduct in them. You start riding a bike to be more earth friendly, then realize that there are animal in those tires. Also, plastic bags. We have switched to cloth bags for 99% of things, but every now and then I don't have a cloth bag on me when I run into a store. There are so many sneaky uses that don't seem reasonable!
erinwyso says
That was the one thing that this book that shocked me — I have mastered staying away from animal products in food and always try to buy cosmetics that are cruelty-free, but I never would have known that things like batteries and LCD screens would be so leaden with animal byproducts as well.
Tiffany K says
i recently looked at the ingredients of my favorite "plain, all~natural" potato chips and was shocked and amazed to see that they had whey listed in the ingredients!! i couldn't believe it…just goes to show that if you aren't making it yourself, you have to read every ingredient on every label…
sdianiska says
Not vegan, trying to get more healthy and kind to the earth…blogs like yours help, Trying to stick to my rule of no more than 5 ingredients on the label and if I can't pronounce it, I don't want it in me.
erinwyso says
Great rule of thumb. I love it that more companies are using vegan logos or just stating (vegan) at the top of ingredient lists (like Amy's products).
sdianiska says
I read ALL labels and try to stick to fresh as much as possible.
Bobbie {the vegan crew} says
I don't drink coffee, so it's never been an issue, but there is a bottle of creamer at work that has a huge "dairy-free" banner on it. If you read the ingredients you'll see that it contains…wait for it…dairy. Go figure! (PS. My email is bobbie AT thevegancrew.com).
maureen says
When I went vegan last June I was shocked to read that wine and beer are not vegan. I read Main Street Vegan book as my very first How To book and it helped me tremendously. This book sounds like a great reference for vegans as well!
mmmscott@bellsouth.net
christine says
Maureen, some wines and beers are vegan – they don't all use isinglass or eggshell or blood to fine them – honest! Many Australian wines are good, look on the websites:)
did you know that regular matchheads have gelatin in them????? and don't just zest any old lemon – they can be coated with shelac or other nasty things, as can the skins of apples – why? to make them look shiny on the shelves!!!!
erinwyso says
Thanks for clarifying that, christine, and for the tip on Australian wines. : )
And matchsticks and lemons containing animal products? Unbelievable!
Melissa says
I read recently that animal bones are sometimes put in sugar to make it more white 🙁 Illinimel81@hotmail.com
Melissa says
I also pinned the book cover! Illinimel81@hotmail.com
Ashley Chew says
I discovered that not all tattoo ink is vegan. Some especially black contains crushed animal bone. Luckily my tattoo artist uses a vegan brand!!
Teri Inman says
Ha! That's what I listed, I didn't see this until after.
Kara Z says
It was champagne that surprised me. Such a disappointment! Pinned the book cover too!
Ashley says
I was bummed to find out some of my vitamins weren't vegan. Good thing for better alternatives! ammauceri@gmail.com
erinwyso says
I was surprised to see how much gelatin and animal byproducts are put into everyday medications after reading Veganissimo. gross.
Kathleen Smith says
I pinned the book cover. tracyksmith@charter.net
Anonymous says
Looked for some organic corn chips and found some chili lime flavoured. As I approached the register, I caught they had whey in them. Why? Why?? Must.Read.Every.Label.
erinwyso says
I hate whey. It ruins otherwise perfectly good food.
Stephanie Zurek says
I remember being shocked when I heard that some beers and wines aren't vegan. Isinglass (a fish byproduct) is used as a clarifying agent in many English beers. I was quite relieved to learn that my favorite styles (German and Belgian) are *usually* okay thanks to the purity laws in those regions. It was a totally eye-opening moment to realize that the PROCESSES may not be vegan!
The Peace Patch says
The vitamins I'd been taking for years…never would have guessed they had gelatin in them but there ya go, hidden waaaaay down, 15th ingredient on the "contains less than 2%" portion of the list. Sneaky little suckers. 🙁
Johanna says
I don't like that crushed bugs are okay to make food coloring. Yuck.
johanna@woodbury.org
erinwyso says
I have heard that there are some companies that make vegan food coloring. But food coloring in itself is kind of a weird concept in itself, so I usually stay away from it!
Melissa Dion says
I was upset when I learned that not all alcohol is vegan! Not cool.
Jenny says
Sugar was the biggest surprise for me, along with bagels- I mean, I sort of figured that they would contain eggs or at least an egg wash. But duck feathers? Or human hair? Yikes. Anyways, I wanted to tell you I really liked this article and agree completely. When reading a book or watching a movie that has to do with veganism, I want to know the facts, not be bombarded with images that will keep me up at night.
erinwyso says
Yikes! Duck feathers? I thought bagels were a pretty "safe" vegan food, but I'll be checking the ingredients from now on.
Jerilee Auclair says
Pesto has parmesan cheese in it! What??? I now stock up on Basil Pesto at Food Fight! Grocery in Portland OR when I'm there. jerileeauclair@gmail.com
Jeni Houser says
Hi! When I made my lifestyle change, I was surprised to find out that simple salad dressings (specifically while dining out) had an egg ingredient! I am always surprised at how many employees will not take the time to find out what the menu entails. I plan ahead and call or research on my own now.
I am wondering…..will this book help with my carbon/green footprint as well?
Thanks!
erinwyso says
Any efforts that reduce the reliance on animal products most certainly would!
aamos613 says
Pinned..I also just discovered that my body wash has gelatin in it. Eck!
Marti says
I was truly disappointed to find that so many snack crackers are not vegan. For example, Wheat Thins Sundried Tomato & Basil, which were always a favorite contain disodium inosinate which according to my "Animal Free" app is a flavor enhancer often derived from meat or fish (sardines.) Though it CAN be from vegetable or fungal sources clearly the Wheat Thins don't show that they are. MANY "flavored" snack products contain this along with Snyders of Hanover flavored pretzel snacks, etc. I can honestly say it is a good thing to have found out, because it drove me onto more whole food types of snacks and less processed! It's all better for my health anyway without that junk!
vedgedout.com says
When I first went vegan I was surprised that almost all store bought bread has animal products in it. It's Bread, c'mon peeps! Now I mostly make my own, but I've found just a couple that are safe in case of emergencies
Barb says
I've been vegan for nearly 8 years and I'm still uncovering ingredients that I had no idea were animal derived. Very frustrating…and so unnecessary!
Jennifer K says
I pinned here: http://pinterest.com/pin/88946161363021516/
Jennifer K says
I never would have suspected that "natural flavoring" in something strawberry/raspberry/vanilla could be non-vegan but earlier this year, there was an article about Starbucks' smoothies and how the contains castoreum – beaver gland extract. Ewww!
erinwyso says
Beaver gland extract? why!?!?!
kimberley says
Where I live Oreos aren't even vegetarian 🙁
Molly Elwell says
These comments are so depressing! I recently learned that Silk is owned by Dean foods aka America's largest dairy company….so, no more Silk. Oh well. Great giveaway, though, thanks!
meanrabbit88(at)gmail(dot)com
Jerilee Auclair says
Thanks for the heads up, Molly. I didn't know that. Goodbye Silk.
Matt Shepherd says
Food colouring! That blew my mind. Also, trying to assemble a cracker and Daiya wedge plate and finding out that 99% of the crackers on the shelf have modified milk ingredients. (mattshepherd at gmail)
Teri Inman says
I was doing research on tattoo's and found out that some contain ground up bones from animals. novologninja @ gmail
Denise says
I pinned it and recently found out gummi bears are not vegan 🙁 I am so sad! I had no idea what geletin was made out of! I have a LONG way to go learning this stuff!
Tanya says
I was shocked to find gelatin in Planters sunflower seeds!
EJ says
I hate finding things like 'modified milk ingredients,' whey powder, honey, and gelatin in random items that you'd assume would be vegan. This seems to happen a lot. Also, dark chocolate should never have milk in it IMO, but some chocolate brands put milk in their dark varieties. jacobelmusic@googlemail.com
Deborah says
I guess I'm too late, I only found the blog today. I'd love the book though 🙂