▲Though it sounds vegetarian, French onion soup is traditionally made with beef broth.

▲Many fat-free varieties contain gelatin—an ingredient derived from various animal body parts—to help retain its texture.

▲Marshmallows also contain gelatin. But gelatin-free varieties are available for those unwilling to forego s'mores.

▲Some contain lard to make it more buttery, so be sure to ask your restaurant and check the package.

▲Fries are by definition vegetarian, but many restaurants use animal fat to fry them. McDonald's is just one example, and they've even been sued over it. However, the chain's fries are already vegetarian in other parts of the world.

▲Many sugar companies use charred animal bones to whiten their sugar. However, there are many companies out there that deliver vegan options. Just do a bit of googling and choose a brand you trust.

▲Many traditional Mexican restaurants make their refried beans with lard.

▲Many store-bought brands of vanilla-flavored ice cream contain the food additive castoreum.

▲They have marshmallows in them, which contain gelatin.

▲Also contain gelatin.

▲Most recipes, though not all, of baked beans call for bacon or ham hock. Heinz Beanz is both vegetarian and vegan, for example.

▲Caesar salad dressing generally includes anchovies.

▲Parmesan cheese, as well as many other cheeses, is made with rennet, which are enzymes extracted from the stomachs of ruminant mammals.

▲Many brands of cake mix use lard. Vegetarian mixes are available, though.

▲This popular brand of breath mints contains gelatin.

▲The traditional recipe of this appetizer calls for anchovies.

▲The traditional recipe starts with ham hock, but vegetarian options exist. Ask your server if you don't consume animal products.

▲Most pesto recipes call for parmesan cheese, which is traditionally made with rennet, an enzyme extracted from animals' stomachs.

▲This Halloween classic contains gelatin.

▲Brightly-colored foods, particularly candy or drinks, contain a dye made from crushed beetle shells, generally labeled as carmine, crimson lake, cochineal, or natural red #4.

▲The coating in candy generally contains shellac, a shiny glaze produced by lac bugs. Shellac is also used extensively as a nail product.

▲Roasted nuts often contain gelatin to help the salt stick better. Check the label.

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Popular snack chains, including Dunkin' Donuts, use an enzyme called L. Cysteine, a substance that can be derived from avian feathers or pig trotters.

▲Figs are arguably non-vegetarian as they contain at least one dead female wasp inside. It's a natural part of the fruit's pollination. No actual parts of the insect can be found inside as an enzyme completely breaks it down and transforms it into protein.

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Many brands of beer and wine, particularly British ones, use isinglass, a gelatin derived from a certain freshwater fish.

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The main ingredient in Jell-O is gelatin.

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Many foods that say "heart-healthy," such as orange juice, breakfast cereals, and milk, contain Omega-3, derived from fish.

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This fermented condiment has anchovies in it.

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Being a vegetarian is a personal choice many people make. But in a world filled with processed foods with long ingredient lists that look more like an advanced chemistry problem than actual food, it can be hard to know what we're actually consuming.

Browse the gallery and check out these surprising foods you didn't realize were not vegetarian-friendly.

'Vegetarian' foods that actually contain animal products

Have you accidentally consumed animal products?

12/02/25 por StarsInsider

FOOD Misconceptions

Being a vegetarian is a personal choice many people make. But in a world filled with processed foods with long ingredient lists that look more like an advanced chemistry problem than actual food, it can be hard to know what we're actually consuming.

Browse the gallery and check out these surprising foods you didn't realize were not vegetarian-friendly.