Vegan and Non-Vegan Food Additives
| Substance | Description | Sources |
| Bisphenol A or BPA (Commonly replaced with Bisphenol S or BPS which is also harmful) | Chemical produced in large quantities for use primarily in the production of polycarbonate plastics. BPA can contaminate food, beverage, air, and soil. It accumulates in several human tissues and organs and is potentially harmful to human health through different molecular mechanisms. Glass and Stainless Steel are safer than plastics. | Shatterproof windows, eyewear, water bottles, and epoxy resins that coat some metal food cans, bottle tops, and water supply pipes. |
ⓥ = Vegan
| Substance | Effect on the body | Sources |
| ⓥ Agar agar Healthy | Gelling agent used to thicken | Red seaweed |
| ⓥ Autolyzed yeast Healthy | Flavoring agent used to make yeast extracts like Vegemite and Marmite. | Yeast cells that are broken down to release amino acids, salts, and carbohydrates. |
| Beeswax Not Vegan, Healthy | Used in candles, chewing gum, and cosmetic products. | Purified from honeycomb from honeybees |
| ⓥ Calcium sulfate Unhealthy | Dairy-free additive, deemed ‘relatively’ non-hazardous, due to ‘hardness of molecules’. Used in plaster of paris and as a food binder (such as with Publix tofu and breads). Better to soak and eat beans! | Limestone or gypsum |
| Calcium carbonate Sometimes ⓥ, Healthy | Can be from animal shells, a natural mineral source of calcium that is dairy-free. | Limestone, marble, or crushed animal shells (oysters, clams, mussels, and coral) |
| ⓥ Calcium chloride Unhealthy | Dairy-free combination of calcium and chlorine, used to lighten food products such as bread. (Pool chloride is a powerful chemical used to sanitize pool water and kill bacteria, by the way. Go organic, avoid the cheap breads!) | Byproduct of making sodium carbonate and by reacting calcium carbonate with hydrochloric acid. |
| ⓥ Cellulose, some hemicellulose Insoluble fiber, Healthy | Reduces constipation, lowers diverticulitis risk, and may reduce weight. | Nuts, whole wheat, whole grains, bran, seeds, edible brown rice, and produce skins. |
| Cochineal or Carmine Not Vegan | Red dye foods, fruit juices, candies, cosmetics, and hygiene products. | Crushed female cochineal insects |
| Gelatin Not Vegan | Not Vegan. A protein used as a thickening agent or to make capsules for vitamins and supplements. | Boiling animal skin, tendons, bones, and ligaments with water |
| Honey Not Vegan, Healthy | Not Vegan. Made by the bees | Bees (Thank you) |
| ⓥ Inulin, Healthy | Prebiotic fiber | Plants |
| Lanolin, cholecalciferol Not Vegan | An oil produced in sheep wool that is used in foods as a coating, like cereal, to add shine and water-resistance. Also used to soften oral products such as bubblegum. | Sheep wool |
| Lecithin Not Vegan (See Sunflower Lecithin or Soy Lecithin for ⓥ), Healthy | Not vegan safe. An emulsifier used as a sticking agent to keep all the ingredients together and balance the chewy, crunchy texture. A vegan-friendly alternative is soy lecithin or sunflower lecithin. | Egg yolks, animal tissues and organs. |
| ⓥ Lignin Insoluble fiber, Healthy | *Not for this with celiac disease or gluten allergy. Good for heart health and stimulates immune function. | Flax, rye, and some vegetables. |
| ⓥ MSG or Monosodium Glutamate Unhealthy | Food additive that enhances flavor and reduces salt content. Known to be addictive. Related to obesity, liver damage, fluctuations in blood sugar, elevated risk of heart disease, behavioral problems, nerve damage, and increased inflammation, and toxic effects on the reproductive system. | Bacteria cultures from fermentation of plant-based ingredients such as sugar cane, sugar beets, cassava or corn. |
| ⓥ Pectin and gums Healthy | *Not for this with celiac disease or gluten allergy. Naturally found in fruits. Boosts fiber in processed foods. | Berries, seeds, and extracted from citrus peel and other plants. |
| ⓥ Polydextrose polyols | Soluble fiber added to processed foods as a bulking agent and sugar substitute. Prevents constipation, may cause bloating or gas. | Made from dextrose, sorbitol, and citric acid. |
| ⓥ Psyllium Healthy | 🍼 Pregnant women should prioritize eating a nutritionally rich diet high in fiber to ease defecation and prevent hemorrhoids. Psyllium husk is a safe fiber to supplement with during pregnancy. Soluble fiber that lowers cholesterol (LDL and total cholesterol), may lower blood sugar, reduces the risk for heart disease. | *Not for this with celiac disease or are gluten allergy. |
| ⓥ Sugar *Sometimes not Vegan, Healthy in small amounts | Listed as “Sugar” in ingredients might include bone char. Bone char, or cow bone, is used to finely pulverize sugar granules to make baked goods softer and more decadent. Sugar, molasses, brown sugar, and confectioners sugar might not be vegan. Organic sugar and responsibly sourced sugar are vegan-friendly. I can literally taste the difference between Silk’s Unsweetened Almond Milk versus Almond Milk sweetened with regular sugar, it makes me nauceous. | Sugar beets and sugar canes |
| Sunflower Lecithin Healthy | Used as an emulsifier, or lubricant. | Sunflower seeds |
| Soy Lecithin Healthy | Used as an emulsifier, or lubricant. | Raw soybeans |
| Tocopherol Sometimes ⓥ | May not be vegan. Added for preservation to prevent color fading. Identical to Vitamin E. | Plant, animal, or petroleum |
| ⓥ Wheat dextrin Healthy | *Not for this with celiac disease or gluten allergy. Soluble fiber that helps lower cholesterol (LDL and total cholesterol) and may lower blood sugar and reduce the risk for heart disease; more research is needed. | Extracted from wheat starch, and widely used to add fiber to processed foods. |
| Whey Not Vegan, Healthy | Derived from animal products | Milk |