Doing Veganuary? These products are accidentally vegan
9.1.2023
Translation: Jessica Johnson-Ferguson
It’s January and many of you are taking the Veganuary challenge: going without animal products for a month. But it needn’t be a real challenge. Let me show you some popular products that happen to be vegan.
Following a vegan diet is difficult and time-consuming – at least that’s the general assumption. And vegan substitute products are as hotly debated as pineapple on pizza. «Why do substitute products look and taste like meat, that doesn’t make sense?!» is a question that’s raised often. To avoid the discussions altogether, I’ve put together foods that happen to be vegan – great news for Veganuary or any other occasion.
Most types of pasta
Let’s start with the staples. Pasta made from wheat, whole wheat or spelt is usually vegan. Exceptions are egg noodles (think tagliatelle) and other special types of pasta. Add a simple tomato sauce to complete quick and simple vegan dish.
By the way, many products state that they may contain traces of milk or eggs. However, this is only important info if you’re allergic to these products, as they may be processed in the same facility. For example, if the products are manufactured with the same machines and could therefore come into contact with, let’s say, milk. Any animal components listed as «traces» aren’t an ingredient, which is why the main products are still considered vegan.
Most types of bread
The basic ingredients of bread – flour, water and salt – are vegan. Yep, yeast is also vegan. Only the plaited Swiss loaf, Zopf, rolls that obviously contain milk or cheese as well as most croissants aren’t vegan. If in doubt, just check the ingredients.
Source: Livia Gamper
Puff pastry from the supermarket
Time to get a bit more specific. Puff pastry from supermarkets is generally vegan, although puff pastry recipes generally use butter. The cheaper, ready-made doughs contain vegetable margarine. This makes baking vegan croissants yourself easy! Simply cut the puff pastry into triangles, add your favourite filling, roll the triangles up, done.
Source: Livia Gamper
Some types of cookies
Many sweet pastries contain either milk, butter, eggs or all of the above. But there are some that are vegan. Oreos, for example. Who’d have thought? And those popular Lotus Biscoff biscuits often served with a cup of coffee are vegan, too. Even most Palmiers, which are called Prussiens in Switzerland, are vegan. After all, they’re made of puff pastry. Again, if you’re not sure, just check the ingredients.
Confectionery + biscuits
Quantity discount
CHF2.95 per piece for 4 units CHF59.09/1kg
Oreo Classic
6 pcs., 66 g
Confectionery + biscuits
Quantity discount
CHF2.95 per piece for 4 units CHF15.60/1kg
Lotus Biscoff
1 pcs., 250 g
Confectionery + biscuits
Quantity discount
CHF4.70 per piece for 4 units CHF22.–/1kg
Kambly Prussia's Guetzli
1 pcs., 250 g
Cocoa powder
What many people don’t know is that the chocolate powder by Caotina and Suchard is vegan. Even though many chocolates aren’t vegan, as they contain milk powder and butter, the powder is. Caotina states so on its website. Suchard is also vegan. Add some of the powder to your plant milk, and you have yourself a wonderful cup of vegan chocolate milk.
Crisps
And now for crisps, or chips as many of you probably call them. The vast majority of them are made from potatoes and deep-fried in vegetable oil. This means they’re vegan. The only exceptions are crisps with sour cream or cheese.
Snacks + Chips
Quantity discount
CHF7.30 per piece for 3 units CHF21.31/1kg
Zweifel Chips Original Paprika Big Pack XXL
380 g
Snacks + Chips
Quantity discount
CHF10.20 per piece for 2 units CHF28.16/1kg
Zweifel Original Nature XXL
380 g
Packet rösti
Now for some vegan fast food. Many ready-made rösti contains zero animal products. After all, the main ingredient is potatoes and rapeseed oil – who’d have thought.
Chips with ketchup
It’s probably obvious to most of you that chips, or fries, are vegan by nature. However, if you’re eating out in an «old-fashioned» restaurant, you might have to be careful. They sometimes still use lard for frying. Having said that, most establishments do use vegetable fat. The ketchup that goes with it almost always vegan, too.
Cold sauces + dips
Quantity discount
CHF6.95 per piece for 3 units CHF8.02/1kg
Heinz Tomatoes Ketchup
960 g
As you can see, the Veganuary challenge isn’t all that hard. After all, in addition to the high-calorie foods listed above, you have all those good old vegetables to choose from. They’re always vegan and don’t come with a list of ingredients you have to read through first.
Cover photo: Livia Gamper
Testing devices and gadgets is my thing. Some experiments lead to interesting insights, others to demolished phones. I’m hooked on series and can’t imagine life without Netflix. In summer, you’ll find me soaking up the sun by the lake or at a music festival.
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