Animal ingredients appear in a variety of products including:

food

clothing

cosmetics

alcohol

clothing

medicine

Some animal products, like chicken broth or beef extract, are obvious and easy to spot. But others have innocuous-sounding names that you’d never suppose are associated with animals. That’s where this list comes in.

Given that animal-derived substances are everywhere and often unlabeled, it’s essentially impossible to avoid all exposure to them. But familiarizing yourself with the items on this list will help you to avoid the most common animal-derived substances.

Animal Ingredients List

The following ingredients are categorized by whether they appear in food, cosmetics, alcohol, or clothing. A complete discussion of the economic and ethical implications of these substances appears in chapter 24 of the Ultimate Vegan Guide.

Animal Ingredients in Food Products:

Carmine

Casein

Cholesterol

Confectioner’s Glaze

Fish oil

Gelatin

Ghee

Glycerin

Isinglass

Lard

Lipase

Rennet

Retinol

Shellac

Tallow

Whey

In Medicine and Supplements:

Adrenaline

Allantoin

Bone Meal

Collagen

Cortisone / Corticosteroid

Cystine

Estrogen

Gelatin

Linoleic Acids

Pepsin

Whey

In Cosmetics:

Allantoin

Albumin

Alpha-Hydroxy Acids

Beeswax

Bee Pollen

Biotin

Carmine

Collagen

Cysteine

Elastin

Fish scales / Guanine

Glycerin

Keratin

Lanolin

Snails

Squalene

Tallow

Wax

Animal-Derived Beer/Wine Fining Substances:

Albumin

Egg Whites

Gelatin

Isinglass (fish bladder)

Animal Skin/Fiber/Feathers in Clothing:

Cashmere

Down

Feathers

Fur

Leather

Sea Shells

Silk

Skins

Suede

Wool

For more information about animal ingredients and vegan lifestyles, see our guides, “Why Go Vegan?” and “How to Go Vegan.”