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What is really vegan, what is vegetarian? A loophole in the law leaves many consumers helpless in the supermarket. What you should know.
- About two percent of the population describe themselves as vegans, ten percent as vegetarians
- There is no legally binding definition of the terms “vegetarian” and “vegan foods”
- Vegans can use quality seals as a guide when shopping, but looking at the list of ingredients does not always help
For the tenth time the Veganuary Encourage people to give up animal products for a month. Behind a vegan diet is the wish, if possible ethically and sustainably Life. The motive: Meat and milk from factory farming pollute the climate, and no animals have to die for purely plant-based products. But which foods are really vegan? where lurk hidden additives animal origin? We explain what consumers need to know.
Allensbach: 1.58 million vegans, 7.9 million vegetarians
According to an analysis of Allensbach Institute 1.58 million people in Germany (two percent of the population) now describe themselves as vegans, 7.9 million people (ten percent) were vegetarians in 2022.
The crux: one loophole makes it difficult for consumers to reliably identify purely plant-based (vegan) and vegetarian products on packaging. Because so far there are in Germany for groceries no legal definition of the terms “vegan” and “vegetarian”.
Problem for vegans: guidelines are not legally binding
There is however Labeling guidelinesthat vegans can follow. The consumer protection ministers of the federal states agreed on these basic points in 2016. They were considered Principles adopted in German food. “The guidelines are not legally binding and are to be understood as expert opinions that represent the general view of the market,” explains Elisabeth van Thiel, nutrition expert at the NRW consumer advice center. “Therefore, these at legal disputes but definitely involved.”
So what is vegan and what is vegetarian? the Consumer Center North Rhine-Westphalia summarizes the definitions published in the German Food Book as follows:
- Vegan: Foodstuffs labeled as vegan and vegetarian must not contain any ingredients (including additives, carriers, flavorings, enzymes), processing aids and similar substances that are of animal origin
- Vegetarian: In addition, foods designated as vegetarian may contain milk, colostrum, farm poultry eggs, bee honey, beeswax, propolis and wool fat, as well as products made from them
A first orientation in the supermarket: label
Anyone looking for vegan or vegetarian food in the supermarket can use this as a first guide seals of approval direct, recommends the consumer center. The labels are not issued by state institutions, but contain uniform criteria throughout Europe.
The V label
Perhaps the logo most familiar to consumers is the V-Label, used by the European Vegetarian Union (EVU) was developed. There is a label for vegan and one for vegetarian products. Foodstuffs that bear the V-Label may not contain any of the following ingredients or auxiliary substances for processing:
- Animal meat (meat, poultry, fish, seafood)
- Ingredients made from meat or bones (in soups, sauces or concoctions)
- Animal fats (exception: butterfat), frying fats or margarine containing fish oil or similar products, for example in cakes, casseroles, pasta, for baking and roasting, for greasing baking trays and cans or any other use
- Gelatine, aspic, gelling agent of animal origin
- Royal jelly (special bee product)
- other products containing ingredients derived from slaughterhouse waste
Source: www. Verbraucherzentrale.nrw
The criteria of the V-Label correspond to the guidelines of the German Food Book. In some points, the standards of the V-Label go beyond the guidelines. Eggs, for example, may not come from cage farming, their origin must be documented in writing. Genetically modified products are also not allowed to bear the “V”. Honey is only allowed in vegetarian products.
There are also provisions for random checks or, under certain circumstances, with the involvement of a independent testing laboratories can take place.
The EcoVeg logo
The EcoVeg logo identifies vegan ones Organic quality food. This vegan logo was developed in 2015 by the association VegOrganic eV. This association of experts from the organic industry is committed to transparent and independent control of vegan products in organic quality.
In order to receive the label, the products must consist exclusively of plant-based ingredients. You are only allowed without technical additives from animal organisms to be produced. Companies that produce both vegan and animal-based foods must ensure spatial and temporal separation during production and later store the foods separately. Only products that are already certified with a valid EU organic label are labeled. The label is only ever awarded for one year, after which new reviews take place.
The Fairtrade seal
The logo is not explicitly vegan, but can be found on many vegan products. It refers to goods whose ingredients too 100 percent fair trade originate and in the production of which certain social, ecological and economic criteria were observed. The social seal is intended to ensure that small farmers receive a guaranteed cost-covering price for their goods. Certain pesticides are banned, organic farming is rewarded.
Also read: Save food through containers
The problem with the ingredients
“Anyone who intentionally doesn’t buy animal products doesn’t want to buy any unintentionally either,” she criticizes Animal welfare organization Peta. This problem is behind it: Vegan foods can contain hidden animal ingredients that cannot be easily identified from the list of ingredients. So far, manufacturers have not had to indicate whether additives, flavorings and vitamin supplements are of animal origin. Often only a list of the E numbers or a call to the manufacturer can help.
Other ingredients such as solvents and carriers for additives, flavors and vitamins or processing aids do not necessarily have to be in the List of ingredients listed – but they may be of animal origin.
The consumer centers have an overview of additives that may be of animal origin on this page of the information portal Lebensmittelklarheit.de released.
Vegans should pay attention to these E numbers
Most vegans know that fruit gums with gelatine can be made from pork rind. However, you should also look out for the abbreviation “E120” in the list of ingredients. The red dye is hidden behind it real carmine, which is obtained from the scale insect. E120 can also be found in jams and fruit preparations.
Chocolate or biscuits covered with it shine when shellac (E904) is used. The coating agent is obtained from lacquer scale insects. Beeswax (E901) can also be used for this purpose.
at Baked goods such as bread or rolls the additive L-cysteine can be processed, it makes the dough easier to knead. It is an amino acid that is made from pig bristles or bird feathers. This additive bears the abbreviation E920 – but this is only recognizable in packaged baked goods.
at vegan juices or wines gelatine from the connective tissue of animals is often used to clarify the liquid. The swim bladder of the sturgeon can also be used for crying. Since the auxiliary substances are removed again in both cases, they do not have to be declared on the products. The same applies here: if in doubt, only ask the manufacturer.
Consumer advocates call for mandatory labeling
More Clarity in labeling vegan foods are demanded by consumer advocates, including the Organization Foodwatch. “The guidelines are a good start,” says expert van Thiel, “but we as a consumer advice center would like the terms vegan and vegetarian to be legally anchored and clear information on the front of the product packaging that it is vegan or vegetarian food.” Fictitious Fancy names for these products could confuse consumers.
More articles from this category can be found here: Sustainability
