Vegetarian diet Everywhere animal ingredients

Hidden ingredients are problematic for vegans and vegetarians

06/27/2013

Anyone who wants to eat vegetarian or vegan, which has it sometimes not so easy, because many foods are found according to the consumer organization „foodwatch“ hidden animal ingredients. So it can quickly become problematic if manufacturers use gelatin for clarifying wine or fruit juices or in the production of potato chips Kälberlab - but this need not declare due to a loophole on the packaging.

consumer organization „foodwatch“ publicly criticizes manufacturers
Hidden bacon in tomato soup, gelatin in cream cheese or pork, game and poultry in potato chips - just over a year ago, the consumer organization foodwatch had publicly criticized that many foods contain hidden animal or animal products, which are difficult or impossible for a consumer to solve even could not be detected. At that time, foodwatch had published sample products with hidden animal ingredients and asked consumer minister Ilse Aigner to introduce a clear declaration requirement. In addition, an e-mail campaign was initiated on www.foodwatch.de/aktion-verstecktetiere, which according to the organization has already been published more than 65,000 consumers have followed.

Protest action shows first successes: Some manufacturers implement production
Now, a recent research by foodwatch has shown that some manufacturers have now met the demand and have partially converted their production - for example, the juice producer Eckes-Granini in multi-vitamin juice "Hohes C" would now „instead of fish gelatin a vegetable substance as a carrier for the added provitamin A“ and Milram maker DMK also responded to his "breakfast quark easily" by saying this „no more gelatin than thickener“ contained, now be „on the packaging of the note „without the addition of gelatine“ printed“, such a recent press release from foodwatch.

„Ritter Sport“ admits to be unable to guarantee vegan chocolate
Also the chocolate maker of „Ritter Sport“ - The Alfred Ritter GmbH & Co. KG - have responded, according to foodwatch: So this had a year ago the „Dear friends of vegan chocolate“ recommended in the company blog the varieties of semi-bitter and marzipan - with the note that they would not contain any milk components, although on its own website a lactose content of 0.3 to 0.4 grams per 100-gram tablet was specified. At that time, the manufacturer had justified this by saying that chocolate with and without milk constituents was produced on the same plant and therefore contamination could not be ruled out. Now, according to foodwatch, that's it „no pure vegan chocolate by Ritter Sport“ and therefore - as long as impurities could not be excluded - so too „never write 'vegan' on a strain ".

Nevertheless, animal products are still hidden in many other products
Despite this first small success, foodwatch still contains animal ingredients in many other foods - because here producers would continue to benefit from the lack of clear legislation: „Consumer protest works - but will never solve the problem in principle. There is still a lack of clear labeling rules“, Oliver Huizinga from foodwatch.

Animal ingredients according to foodwatch, for example, at „Valensina“ and „funny fresh“
According to the consumer organization, for example, the juice producer „Valensina“ while promoting products on its website, „which are produced without animal ingredients and are suitable for vegans“ - but that „For example, the orange-mango-pineapple juice with the help of pork gelatin is freed of turbidity“, consumers would still not find out, according to foodwatch. And also the chip producer „funny-fresh“ continue to use according to the consumer organization „In many parts of its range, animal ingredients are still present, depending on the variety of game, poultry, beef or pork - without labeling this on the packaging“, the press release continues.

„To avoid animal products in food“ for consumers „almost impossible“
According to the organization, that circumstance shows that it is for consumers „still almost impossible“ be, „To avoid animal products in food“, so Oliver Huizinga. The lack of mandatory regulation in the German Food Law for the labeling of ingredients of animal origin considerably limits the consumer's freedom of choice, as they for example „without them notice gelatin or lactose undercooked“ will - without these ingredients must be declared, „even if manufacturers voluntarily as products „vegetarian“ or „vegan“ misleading is possible. Because the terms are not legally defined“, so the press release.

Health Minister asked, „finally create transparency“
Accordingly, foodwatch had already asked last year Federal Consumer Minister Ilse Aigner (CSU) to finally close this loophole - the goal: „Anyone who rejects animal food for ethical, religious or other reasons, should finally get the opportunity.“ But after last year's signature campaign failed to respond, foodwatch, together with the Vegan Society Germany and the Vegetarian Federation Germany (VEBU), presented a draft bill in April this year, in which the three organizations again call on Ilse Aigner, „finally, to create transparency by amending the national food labeling regulation“, so foodwatch. (No)