Veganuary runs from 1 to 31 January. The meals are the easy part. The hard part is the supermarket, where animal ingredients hide behind E-numbers, Latin names and vague words like "natural flavor".
Veganuary estimates that around 30 million people tried vegan in January 2026. If you're joining them in 2026, this guide covers the 25 ingredients that most often catch new vegans out, and how to check a label in seconds.
The obvious ones are not the problem
Nobody needs help spotting "milk" or "chicken" on a label. New vegans get caught by ingredients that don't sound like animals at all: a red coloring made from insects, a glaze made from beetle secretions, a dough improver that can come from feathers. These turn up in sweets, bread, crisps and drinks you'd never think to question.
20 ingredients that come from animals
| Ingredient | Also listed as | Often found in |
|---|---|---|
| Carmine / cochineal | E120 | Red sweets, drinks, yogurts |
| Gelatin | Gelatine | Gummies, marshmallows, capsules |
| Shellac | E904 | Glazed sweets, coated fruit |
| L-cysteine | E920 | Some breads and bagels |
| Whey | Whey powder | Crisps, bread, snack bars |
| Casein | Caseinate | "Non-dairy" creamers, cheese alternatives |
| Lactose | Milk sugar | Crisps, bread, sweets |
| Beeswax | E901 | Glazed sweets, coated fruit |
| Honey | — | Cereals, granola, bars |
| Lysozyme | E1105 (from egg) | Cheese |
| Egg albumin | Egg white | Baked goods, some drinks |
| Lanolin | E913 | Vitamin D3, chewing gum |
| Vitamin D3 | Cholecalciferol | Fortified foods (vegan D3 from lichen exists) |
| Fish oil / omega-3 | — | Fortified bread and juices |
| Isinglass | Fish gelatin | Beer and wine (rarely on labels) |
| Anchovies | — | Worcestershire sauce, Caesar dressing |
| Ghee / butterfat | Milk fat | Snacks, Indian sweets |
| Lard / animal fat | Tallow | Pastry, tortillas, refried beans |
| Animal rennet | Rennet | Cheese |
| Pepsin | Enzyme | Some cheese |
5 ingredients that might be animal-based
These are the tricky ones. They can come from plants or animals, and the label usually doesn't say which. That's why a good vegan checker gives you a third answer besides "vegan" and "not vegan": check.
| Ingredient | Also listed as | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Disodium inosinate | E631 | Flavor enhancer in crisps and instant noodles, often made from meat or fish |
| Mono- and diglycerides | E471 | Emulsifier in bread and ice cream; plant or animal fat |
| Stearic acid | E570 | In sweets and gum; plant or animal fat |
| Natural flavor | Natural flavoring | US rules let it come from meat, seafood, eggs or dairy as well as plants |
| Cane sugar (US) | Sugar | Some US refiners filter cane sugar through bone char; beet and organic sugar are not |
How to check a label in 5 seconds
Memorising 25 ingredients is hard in a busy aisle. With Vegan Scan AI, you take a photo of the ingredient list and the app tells you whether the product is Vegan, Not Vegan or needs a Check, and explains every flagged ingredient in plain English.
It reads the label itself, so it works on local brands and imported products that barcode apps often don't know. Read more in photo scanning vs barcode apps.
Your Veganuary shopping checklist
1. Read every label the first time you buy a product, even "plant-based" ones. Whey and casein turn up in surprising places.
2. Watch for E120, E904, E901, E920 and E1105 on sweets, bread and cheese alternatives.
3. Treat E471, E570, E631 and "natural flavor" as "check with the maker".
4. Re-check favorites now and then. Recipes change without the packaging looking different.
5. Planning a treat? Read are Oreos vegan? first.
Results from any app are guidance, not a guarantee. If you have an allergy, always confirm with the label or the manufacturer.
