How to tell if a product is vegetarian

It can be difficult to tell if a product is vegetarian or vegan. To decipher many ingredient lists you need a degree in chemistry. Something as benign as a marshmallow could contain gelatin, which is usually made from animal products unless it specifically states vegetarian gelatin (not sure if this really exists.) This brings me to the question-is there an easier way to determine if a product is vegetarian or vegan. The answer is yes and it is on the label.

Kosher Parve
Look for kosher products when you are shopping for vegetarian and vegan foods. The exact label you want to see is kosher, parve. Anything that is labeled kosher parve cannot contain meat or dairy products. All you have to do at that point is to make sure it does not contain fish or eggs. Most fish (not shell fish or anything that feeds on the bottom like catfish) and egg products are considered parve.

Why Kosher
In order to be deemed kosher parve, a product must be inspected for ingredients and preparation methods. The product may not contain or be manufactured or prepared in a facility where it could come in contact with beef, chicken, turkey, milk or milk products. The facility cannot prepare or manufacture non-kosher foods due to the possibility of cross-contamination.

Things that you may not think of as non-vegetarian or non-vegan may actually contain ingredients that would offend you. For example--red dyes. Not all red dyes are acceptable. Certain red dyes are made from beetles. I don't know about you, but I would prefer not to have bugs in my food. The FDA has regulations about the cochineal beetle and carmine contained in food products. I would rather look for a kosher label on all food and drink that contain red pigments. This way I can be positive that they are beetle free. It is against Jewish law to eat bugs or anything derived from insect parts. The only exception to the bug rule is honey because it is created outside of the bee.

The exact ruling against eating insects is found in Leviticus 11:43 "You shall not make yourselves abominable with any creeping thing that creeps, neither shall you make yourselves unclean with them."


Other reasons to look for kosher parve products is that kosher law is much tougher than any FDA or USDA regulation. To quote an old Hebrew National commercial "We answer to a higher authority." So there you have it. Make it easier on yourself if you are unsure about how to tell if a product is vegetarian or vegan. Check the label.

--Lynda