17 Foods That Seem Vegan But Aren't - Tasting Table

This may be a huge shock even for non-vegans, but a great deal of sugar produced in the United States is not considered vegetarian. Sugar can be found in almost any processed food these days, so if you're vegan, pay attention and listen up. Sugar is not always vegan or vegetarian, even if labeled "plant-based," because certain production processes use animal products.

Some companies purify their sugar with bone char to give it that bright white color. This char is made from cattle bones and, of course, can not be considered a humane ingredient. Look for organic sugars, sugars that are not purified, imported sugars, and for sugars that are vegan-certified. Stay on the lookout for sugar purified with "natural carbon," which is just another fancy way to say bone char without sounding so, well, gross and blunt. 

Keep this in mind when you're buying processed foods with "sugar" listed as an ingredient, and remember that not all sugars are made using the same methods. As you may imagine, sugar is a tough food to avoid altogether, but if you do most of your own cooking and baking, you may be in the clear.