Lisa O
Suppose you’re going vegan, trying to eat healthier, or making eco-friendly choices by cutting down on animal products. In that case, you might be surprised by how many everyday items have animal ingredients. We all know things like leather jackets, wool mittens, and down pillows come from animals—but there are many other products we don’t often think about. Here are 20 surprising things that sometimes contain animal products.
Beer
Do alcoholic drinks like beer sneak in non-vegan ingredients from animals? If you guessed “yes,” you’re right on the money. Some ales, meads, and stouts use stuff like isinglass and gelatin to clear things up. Isinglass comes from fish bladders, while gelatin is made from animal skin, bones, and cartilage. And because these ingredients aren’t always listed on the label, it can be tough to know what’s really in your beer.
Wine
It’s not just beer—wine also often involves animal products in its production. During winemaking, “fining agents” are used to clear out proteins, cloudiness, yeast, unwanted flavors, and other particles. Some of these fining agents include bone marrow, blood, crushed crustacean shells, gelatin, fish oil, and isinglass, all of which come from animals.
White and Brown Sugar
You might not be surprised to learn that the white sugar you use in your coffee, tea, or baking is made using animal products. Bone char is commonly used in the sugar industry to filter and whiten sugar cane. If you were thinking of switching to brown sugar as a healthier option, unfortunately, it’s just refined white sugar with molasses added to it — and bone char is also used in that process.
Perfume and Aftershave
Even with more vegan options out there, it’s still tricky to find fragrances and aftershave that are truly cruelty- and animal-free. Those bold, musky scents from Asia made their way to Europe through three common ingredients still used in perfumes and aftershaves: ambergris, civet, and musk. Ambergris comes from sperm whales, civet is from a cat-like animal found in Asia and Africa, and musk is sourced from male musk deer, usually found in Siberia.
Shampoo and Conditioner
One way to help protect the environment and animals is by choosing vegan-friendly skincare and beauty products that are cruelty-free and don’t contain animal ingredients. Many popular haircare items include lecithin—which comes from both plant and animal sources. Lecithin is used because it helps extend the product’s shelf life and mixes ingredients together. So, you might want to think twice before grabbing your favorite shampoo or conditioner next time.
Yogurt
Many people mistakenly think that yogurt isn’t a dairy product, but those who make it at home know milk is a key ingredient. Two cultures, lactobacillus bulgaricus, and streptococcus thermophilus, are added to the milk to thicken it into yogurt. While cow’s or goat’s milk is typically used, you can swap them for vegan options like soy, almond, or wheat milk.
Glycerin
Glycerin is a super popular ingredient in skincare and beauty products because it makes them easier to apply and helps pull moisture into your skin. It’s made from different fats and oils. However, when it comes to soap, glycerin is often sourced from animal blood and fatty tissues. So unless your soap is labeled as vegan, the glycerin in it might come from critters.
Medicine and Supplements
Plastic Bags
If you’re looking for an extra reason to ditch plastic bags beyond their environmental damage, here’s a big one—they often contain a surface lubricant made from animal fats. So not only are plastic bags harmful to the planet, but they also have hidden animal ingredients. Now, this might be the perfect excuse to switch to tote bags for your next grocery run.
Red Food Color
You might not be shocked to hear that carmine, the red color made from crushed bugs, is used in beauty products like nail polish. But it might surprise you that carmine is also added to stuff like yogurts, ice creams, soft drinks, fruit pies, cakes, and donuts. Basically, you’ve been munching on crushed insects called cochineal for most of your life without even knowing it!
Fabric Softener
If you’re curious about what makes your laundry so soft—it’s thanks to something called dihydrogenated tallow dimethyl ammonium chloride. This long name belongs to a key ingredient in fabric softeners like Downy. It’s made by boiling down fat from cattle, sheep, and horses, then mixing it with chemicals to create a coating that gives your clothes that soft, smooth feel.
Tires
Stearic acid, which comes from animals, is a big player in rubber processing and manufacturing, so it’s a crucial part of making tires. This fatty acid is found in both plants and animals, but it’s more common in animals. Besides tires, stearic acid is present in a bunch of other industries, including construction, textiles, and personal care.
Products Made From Natural Sources
When shopping in the organics or health-food aisles, be super careful and read the labels closely. Many products labeled as “made from natural sources” might actually contain animal or plant ingredients. PETA warns that in the health-food and cosmetics industry, “natural sources” often mean animal ingredients like glands, fat, elastin, protein, and oil.
Nail Polish
Did you know? Many nail polishes contain animal-based ingredients like guanine, carmine, and keratin. Guanine comes from fish scales and gives polish its pearly shine. Carmine is made from crushed insects and gives that super bright red color. Keratin, which is an animal protein from mammals, is used to make hair and nails temporarily stronger. Try switching to vegan nail polish instead.
Razors
When you’re looking into hair removal products, it’s not just about finding brands that don’t test on animals. You should also check out what’s in those lubricating strips on razors. Many of them use ingredients like glycerin, which comes from animal fat, and allantoin, which is made from animal urine. So, if you’re aiming to avoid animal products entirely, you’ll need to dig a bit deeper than just checking for cruelty-free labels.
Photo Paper
Gelatin is a protein usually made by boiling the tendons, skin, ligaments, and bones of cows or pigs with water. But it’s not just in your food—it’s also used in a lot of everyday items. For example, gelatin coats the surface of photos, so those pics from your high school prom, your best friend’s wedding, or your trip to Belize might have a layer of gelatin on them.
Currency Notes
This might shock you, but in 2016, the Bank of England revealed that the new British £5 polymer note had traces of tallow, which is animal fat. This news caused quite a stir among vegans and vegetarians. The U.K. isn’t alone—more than 20 others also use animal fat in their plastic money. These animal-based polymer bills are pretty common now, and it could take a while to phase them out if they ever do.
Chewing Gum
Chewing gum brands like Wrigley often use synthetic ingredients, but there are still some brands that include stearic acid and glycerin in their gum. Both of these can be sourced from animals. If you’re trying to steer clear of animal products—it’s a good idea to check the labels carefully and look for gums that use plant-based alternatives instead.
Cake and Cupcake Mixes
Carmine, made from tiny crushed insects living on prickly pear cactus plants, is also used to color cake and cupcake mixes. Before you go for that slice of red velvet cake or those cupcakes with red icing, think twice. Those bright colors often come from carmine, which means you’re getting a bit of insect power in your sweets!
Orange Juice
If your go-to orange juice has added vitamin D, check the label to see if it’s D2 or D3. If it’s D3, it might not be vegan because D3 often comes from animals—either lanolin, which is a waxy substance from sheep’s wool, or fish oil. So, if you want to keep things vegan, make sure to look for a green sign or cruelty-free mark on the label to be safe.