Vegetarianism Stack Exchange
Vegetarianism Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [is-it-vegetarian]

Exploring the edges of what is considered vegetarian. Process contamination, obscure ingredients, and products of unknown composition.

Many people who embrace a vegetarian lifestyle are satisfied to follow a baseline definition of vegetarianism, such as this one provided by the Vegetarian Society.

Abstinence from the flesh of animals (fish, flesh, fowl) as food.

This tag is for questions that go beyond the baseline of vegetarianism and really explore the edges of might be considered vegetarian. Here are a few categories that these questions fit into.

  • Process contamination. Some processing steps use animal parts but leave virtually no trace in the final product. Two common examples are using bone char to bleach sugar and fish bladder to filter wine.
  • Accidental contamination such as through processing or cooking.
  • Specific ingredient sources and origins. Asking about the source of specific ingredients with unfamiliar names and/or origins in order to determine whether they depend on animal materials.
  • Unknown composition. Some products are accidentally vegetarian, while others appear to be vegetarian but contain animal ingredients.

See also

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What cheese is considered vegetarian?

Most cheeses aren't vegetarian. Are there any types of cheeses which are? I'm not asking for specific products, but general information on when cheese is not considered vegetarian (e.g. removing some enzymes, or specific techniques/processes which…
kenorb
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Why are a lot of beer and wines non-vegetarian?

The vast majority of beer and wines aren't vegetarian. I believe it is fish bladders that are used to make the drink clearer. What is the vegetarian alternative to this and why isn't it more widely used? Is the veggie option inferior in some way?
Crab Bucket
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Is "starter" in yogurt vegetarian?

закваска which is an ingredient in Bulgarian yogurt is translated as starter in English. Is this ingredient vegetarian?
Petar Vasilev
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How non-vegetarian is non-vegetarian cheese?

Most cheeses, at least from e.g France, seem to use animals rennet to make the cheese. This comes from a killed animal, so it's not vegetarian. My question is, how much actually goes into cheese? Is it an incredibly small amount that's required?…
John Smith
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Is mushroom vegetarian or non-vegetarian?

Some vegetarians avoid eating mushrooms. Are mushrooms a non-vegetarian product? if so, what makes them non-vegetarian, and why do vegetarians avoid eating mushrooms?
azhagan
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Do some vegetarians eat gelatin?

Gelatin is an animal byproduct. Nonetheless, I know many self-identified vegetarians who eat gelatin anyway. Are there reasons for being vegetarian (e.g. religious) that allow the consumption of gelatin?
C_Z_
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Is there a vegan or vegetarian instant noodles?

In Australia, but don't mind global suggestions. I have tried looking for some good noodles that are decent and are on the hot and spicy side of the flavour scale.
school student in uni
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Can those who eat insects be considered vegetarians?

If one eats insects as part of their diet, can it be considered vegetarian?
MatheusJardimB
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Vegetarian Mini-Pill (Progestin Only Birth Control)

Does anyone know if any of the "mini pill" brands of progestin-only birth control are vegetarian? I need progestin only options for medical reasons (options which contain estrogen are not options due to a medical condition, and I'm looking for…
QWriter
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Is the cheese used in PizzaHut and at Dominos in Malaysia vegetarian?

Both of these big food chains provide vegetarian pizzas in most of the country, but is the cheese used in their pizza free from animal enzyme?
Thiagz
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Is usage of corals vegetarian and/or vegan?

I did a quick google on the topic and the only sensible thing was this Yahoo answer. However, I wanted to check here as well. Also, according to Wikipedia corals are animals (marine invertebrates) but according to the Yahoo answer corals are…
Petar Vasilev
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Why isn't rennet vegetarian?

From Wikipedia: Rennet /ˈrɛnɪt/ is a complex set of enzymes produced in the stomachs of ruminant mammals. Every official-ish source I've seen (dictionary.com, Webster, Vergetarian Society, Wikipedia), more or less define vegetarianism as "doesn't…
aquirdturtle
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What non-vegetarian and/or non-vegan ingredients can be found in cosmetics?

Veganism is defined as "a way of living which seeks to exclude, as far as is possible and practicable, all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose". As vegans, it follows that we should avoid all…
Cristina
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Soda stream syrup vegetarian?

What soda stream syrups are vegetarian in nature? We have several at home & I figured that others that are considering getting one that a vegetarians might want to know as well! If they aren’t vegetarian could you direct me to some vegetarian…
Abraham Ray
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Why vegetarian food is considered to be the best food?

A vegetarian diet is high in fiber, vitamins, minerals and low in saturated fats. This keeps your blood pressure and cholesterol levels in check. Over-time, regular consumption of such a diet can lower your risk of heart diseases and stroke.
Nguyen Hoat
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