Ingredient lists ... argh!?!
Ingredient lists ... argh!?
As a new vegetarian trying to cut out all dairy and eggs from my diet, I'm having trouble with reading labels. I've always been a calorie/fat/etc checker, but reading all that fine print is not something I'm used to. I tend to skim over stuff. Then I realized, most items say at the bottom in bold print:
Contains: Milk, egg, and wheat ingredients.
Or whatever the ingredients are. So I bought this box of grape-nuts bars, and it says at the bottom:
Allergy information: Manufactured on equipment that processes sunflower seeds, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, and sesame seeds.
So I was like, okay! That seems good. I was in a big hurry too and these things seemed like a tasty new snack. So I'm looking at the label this morning, wondering ... where is that saturated fat coming from? Oh yeah, nonfat milk, calcium caseinate, and butter! I guess it's my fault for not reading the fine print. Do any other vegan/vegetarians have this annoying problem when trying to find a new treat?
Answers:
Yeah, that has happened to me alot too... especially when I first became a vegan.
I just made it into a habit to read the ingredient label twice, that way I don't miss anything the 2nd time around.
oh and if your buying something that could contain meat>like soup or something<... beware of those bold printed MAY CONTAIN: EGGS, SOY, WHEAT, MILK ... they only list major food allergens, they do not list on that allergen thing whether something has meat in it or not. (just in case you didn't know)
Cause when I first became a vegan, I discovered that "sometimes" handy little allergen statement thing... And was going by what that said... bought a box of rice stuff... got it home... was about to cook it... read the ingredient list carefully just to make sure, and saw that it contained CHICKEN FAT... yuk.... So I have made it a serious habit... I actually kind of like reading them... cause I'm like hah... I know what that word means!...lol
I think that stuff like that happens to every new vegan! I think it is part of the entry into the vegan 'club' is to mess up on reading ingredient lists in the beginning. :)
Don't beat yourself up too much - just give the rest of this new snack to friends or family and try again.
I have come to learn how to make alot of snacks for myself since then I know what is in then. Or finding things that I know are vegan (trail mix, soy yogurt, pretzels, fruit) and sticking to those items if I am in a hurry and don't have time to read labels.
hey :) i've gotten good at reading all that fine print, but my mom often misses an ingredient or two while shopping. bummer! i find that you just need to go shopping when you have a few extra minutes to dedicate through reading the labels
http://www.vegfamily.com/lists/animal-in...
My favorite is the good old "natural flavor". Always take the time to read the ingredients! The list above will help you with the ones you are unsure of..
I have actually had arguments in the aisles of supermarkets.
One day, while visiting some friends in Vermont, I was looking for a pancake mix without egg in it. A kind woman, well she started out that way, asked what I was looking for. When I replied a pancake batter without egg, she started explaining that pancakes could not be made without egg.
I told her I cook them at home many times. She started getting louder and louder. My friend heard the commotion and knew I was involved somehow.
Yes, I read the labels three times, for any new product, and at least once for a trusted product. And I still get annoyed looks from passerbys.
Yes, unfortunately that has happened to all of us on occasion...So I learned to do the buddy system ..I read first and then have either my son, or boyfriend ,or sister double check (I have even had other customers or checkouts help) .. I keep all receipts until I have completed the double check..maybe your guy or a family member would do that for you too..It really has stopped me from some " grave " errors..
The thing I always look at first is the cholesterol. If it is more than 0g there are animal products in it, because cholesterol is only found in animal products. You still have to read the fine print if it is 0g, because some animal ingredients are in such small amounts that they don't add enough cholesterol to list, but it's a good start and will save time in having to read the whole ingredient list every time.