Best vegan cheese brands: 7 that pass, and the cheddar that is only lactose-free
Our pick: Violife's mozzarella shreds, Vegan Society certified and nut-free. For a board, Treeline's aged cashew. Skip Cabot's lactose-free cheddar: it's milk.
Food & Drink
After more than a decade of veganism, bread can still ambush me. Food & Drink is where I work out whether the thing in your basket is vegan, and which brand to grab when it isn’t. Gelatin hides in sweets, whey in crisps, and some wines and beers are cleared with isinglass, which is fish bladder. The front of the pack rarely mentions any of it.
How I check: I read the ingredient list, look for a vegan certification and, where the label leaves room for doubt, go by what the brand itself says. I don’t taste my way to a verdict. Recipes change, so treat every verdict as a snapshot and glance at the label anyway. You’ll also find storage guides here, because “does vegan butter go bad?” turns out to be one of the internet’s most pressing questions.
Start here: Does vegan butter go bad? · How long vegan mayo lasts · Foods you’d never guess aren’t vegan · Is bread vegan? · Alcohol on a plant-based diet
How to make vegan food taste better: 10 pantry sauces checked, and the oyster the label won’t flag
Miso, tamari, vegan Worcestershire, mushroom oyster sauce, fish sauce, liquid smoke: 10 checked. Oyster sauce lists oyster; its allergen line doesn't.
Best vegan hot dogs: 6 compared, and the no-nitrite claim with a celery footnote
Our pick is Lightlife Smart Dogs: certified vegan, 60 calories and 350 mg sodium a link. Six plant-based dogs compared, and what the nitrite claims mean.
Are tater tots vegan? The potato ones we checked are, but Green Giant’s veggie tots all have egg
The potato tots we checked are: Ore-Ida and Grown in Idaho list nothing animal. Green Giant's veggie tots list eggs and whey, Dr. Praeger's egg whites.
Are ice cream cones vegan? The boxed ones we checked mostly are, but Carvel’s and Cold Stone’s waffle cones aren’t
Most boxed cones we checked are: Joy's undipped cones and Let's Do list nothing animal. Carvel and Cold Stone waffle cones have egg and buttermilk.
Are English muffins vegan? Some are, but all six Thomas’ muffins we read list whey
Some are. The Dave's Killer Bread, Ezekiel 4:9, Rudi's, Katz and Trader Joe's Classic muffins we read are vegan; all six Thomas' muffins list whey.
Is baklava vegan? Usually not, and honey isn’t always the reason
Usually not. Trader Joe's baklava has ghee and eggs, Athens' has honey, Kontos' has butter. Athens, Kontos and Fillo Factory phyllo doughs are vegan.
Low-carb vegan pasta: 7 that pass, and the cauliflower linguini made with egg
Konjac and hearts of palm are the low-carb vegan pastas: Miracle Noodle lists 1 g net carb a serving. Taste Republic's cauliflower linguini contains egg.
What is vegan meat made of? Pea, soy or wheat protein, and a binder to read
Vegan meat is pea, soy or wheat protein with oil and a binder. 7 read from the makers' pages: Beyond, Impossible, Field Roast, and Quorn's grounds with egg.
Is apple juice vegan? By the label almost always, and two store brands say so outright
Almost always: 9 apple juices and 1 drink list nothing animal. Gelatin can clarify juice unlisted; Whole Foods' 365 and Kroger's Simple Truth say vegan.
What do vegans eat instead of meat? 7 substitutes, and which ones replace the protein
Seitan, tempeh, tofu and TVP replace meat's protein; jackfruit only its texture, at 1 g of protein a serving. 7 compared, Beyond and Impossible included.
How to check if a food is vegan: what each part of the label can and can’t tell you
Read the ingredient list, not the front. Non-dairy, meatless, gelatin-free and kosher all appear on non-vegan foods; a Certified Vegan mark checks it all.
Best vegan mayo: 6 egg-free jars, and why the word dressing doesn’t tell you
Vegenaise is our pick; Hellmann's Plant Based, Sir Kensington's and Chosen Foods Vegan also pass. Hellmann's olive oil dressing and Chosen Classic contain egg.
Vegan grocery list: 8 staples, and why Jif won’t call itself vegan
A vegan grocery list by aisle: Nasoya tofu, Oatly, Bragg nooch, Dave's Killer Bread and more. Jif calls its peanut butter vegetarian, not vegan.
Is gelatin vegan? No, and Jell-O’s plant-colored box still uses it
No. Gelatin is animal collagen, and Jell-O Simply still lists it second. NOW Real Food agar and pectin from Sure-Jell or Anthony's set food without it.
Are bouillon cubes vegan? Some are, and the flavor name won’t tell you which
Some are. Edward & Sons' Not-Chick'n cubes and Better Than Bouillon's No Chicken Base are vegan; its Mushroom Base has milk, Herb-Ox chicken cubes chicken fat.
10 foods that aren’t vegan, and why the allergen line won’t warn you about half of them
10 everyday foods that aren't vegan, from Campbell's Vegetable soup to Altoids. Gelatin, lard and honey never reach the allergen line, so read the ingredients.
Is tapioca vegan? Yes, and the dairy is in the pudding, not the pearl
Yes: tapioca flour, starch and pearls are cassava starch. The pudding isn't: Kozy Shack lists milk first, and Bob's Red Mill's recipe adds cream and 2 eggs.
Are Girl Scout cookies vegan? A few are, and the bakery behind your troop decides which
Some are. Thin Mints from both bakers are made with vegan ingredients, as are ABC's Lemonades and Peanut Butter Patties. Little Brownie's Tagalongs have whey.
Are funnel cakes vegan? 8 mixes read, and why “just add water” doesn’t answer it
Most funnel cakes aren't vegan; 7 of the 8 mixes and frozen cakes we read contain egg or milk. Golden Dipt's mix lists nothing animal and is OU pareve.
Is rye bread vegan? 8 loaves read, and why “parve” on the bag doesn’t settle it
Some rye bread is vegan. Beefsteak's two rye loaves and both Mestemacher loaves list nothing animal; Arnold and Pepperidge Farm add unsourced monoglycerides.
