Cutting meat, eggs, and dairy from one’s diet is easy when deciding to go vegan. What isn’t so easy is knowing all of the hidden byproducts lurking in food and various household items. Byproducts are the substances and ingredients used to create, process, or preserve foods. For example, snacks like gelatin cups may be fruity and refreshing, but gelatin is derived from ground-up animal skin and bones. 

Gummy candy is another popular treat that must be avoided. Cow and pig bones are boiled and reduced to create the gelatinous base, which gives these confections their squishy texture. Try Project 7 or VegoBears instead. Even breath mints like Altoids contain gelatin. Peta Kids reports safer alternatives like SweeTarts and Red Vines are better options for something sweet to snack on.

Gourmands may love wine, but this is one delicacy that is inconsistent with a vegan lifestyle. The winemaking process relies on egg whites, shellfish exoskeletons, and animal marrow, among other ingredients. Because wine is something so many people cherish, collectives like Vegan Wines are emerging to educate vegan consumers about vintages that are safe for them to imbibe. Vegan Wines Co-Founder and CEO Frances Gonzalez explained on the community’s website: “Veganic methods are not only possible in winemaking, but they are also the best way to grow healthy, great grapes to produce great naturally vegan wines. We like to say that our wines are … “‘Naturally Vegan.'”

Many people in the vegan community follow their meat-eating friends and acquaintances to restaurants, then order items that they assume will be safe for them. For example, grazing on tortillas, salsa, and refried beans may feel like a safe bet at a Mexican restaurant. However, chefs and cooks prepare those beans using lard. Tortillas are sometimes softened with butter or gently toasted on grills used for cooking beef, pork, and poultry. Some eateries have answered the call for cruelty-free foods. West Hollywood restaurant Gracias Madre is a stylish and fun vegan alternative specializing in traditional Mexican cuisine. French fries from chains like In-N-Out Burger and Burger King are vegan, but at McDonald’s, the fries contain beef fat. Even vegetarians who think that consuming a little cheese here and there is safe might be shocked to discover that some curds and cultures are produced with animal rennet made from lambs, pigs, and male calves. Knowing the truth about cheese is another reason to cut out dairy altogether and switch to vegan varieties like Treeline or Violife. 

It’s not just food items that vegans have to be wary of because animal products may be present in medications, over-the-counter vitamins, and supplements. Digestive enzymes contain lipase derived from cow and pig pancreatic glands. Vitamin D3, also known as Cholecalciferol, is made with lanolin – a byproduct of sheep’s wool. However, multiple companies are committed to providing vegans with safe products. Vegan Vitality and Nature’s Way are two brands respectful of vegan dietary restrictions. They make their supplements with plant-derived gelatin, coatings, and binders.

As for pain relievers, Vegan Med notes that Tylenol PM Extra Strength Pain Reliever & Sleep Aid Caplets and Advil Ibuprofen Tablets are animal-free, but many other commonly used varieties from the same manufacturers are not. Observing a plant-based diet is a fulfilling experience on multiple levels. However, knowledge is power. Learning the names of harmful byproducts gives vegans complete control over their diets and what goes into their bodies.

Vegan Wines, Treehugger, PETA Kids