Guides
Verify Veg blog
Hidden animal ingredients, dish questions, and shopping against your diet, at home and on the road.
Is Bulgogi Vegetarian? (It's Beef: Here's the Veg Swap)
Bulgogi is Korean marinated beef, so it's not vegetarian. The marinade itself is usually vegan. Here's how to order a mushroom or tofu version instead.
Is Carbonara Vegetarian? (Guanciale, Egg & Rennet)
Traditional carbonara is not vegetarian: it contains guanciale (cured pork cheek), egg and pecorino made with animal rennet. Here's what makes it non-veg and the vegetarian swaps.
Is Bratwurst Vegetarian? (Sausage, Explained)
Bratwurst is not vegetarian: it's a German pork (or veal/pork) sausage. Plant-based bratwurst exists and is common. Here's what to check.
Is Biryani Vegetarian? (And Is There a Vegan Version?)
Biryani is usually a meat dish (chicken or mutton), but vegetable biryani is common too. Both are often cooked with ghee. Here's how to tell and how to find vegan biryani.
Is Borscht Vegetarian? (Beet Soup, Explained)
Borscht varies: it can be made with meat stock or be fully vegetarian, and it's often served with sour cream. Here's how to tell and how to get vegan borscht.
Is Bibimbap Vegetarian? (Egg, Beef & Gochujang)
Bibimbap is usually not vegetarian: it's topped with a fried egg and sliced beef. Vegetable bibimbap exists, but watch the egg and the gochujang. Here's what to check.
Is Aloo Gobi Vegan? (Potato & Cauliflower Curry)
Aloo gobi is usually vegan: potato and cauliflower in a tomato-onion-spice gravy. Some cooks use ghee. Here's how to be sure.
Is Beeswax (E901) Vegan? In Candy, Gum and Cosmetics
Beeswax (E901) is made by honey bees, so it is not vegan. It coats candy, chewing gum and fruit, and hides in cosmetics. Here's how to spot it.
Ingredient Translation Cheat Sheet (Animal-Derived Words in 8 Languages)
The animal-derived ingredient words to recognize on foreign labels: milk, egg, meat, fish, gelatin and more, across German, French, Dutch, Indonesian, Spanish, Italian and Japanese.
Hidden Animal Ingredients in Indian Food (Ghee, Paneer and Curd)
Indian food hides animal products in dairy: ghee, paneer, curd and cream. The FSSAI green and brown dots and the new V logo help. Here's what to watch and how to eat vegan in India.
Hidden Animal Ingredients in Indonesian Food (Terasi, Krupuk)
Indonesian food hides animal products in shrimp paste (terasi), fish sauce and shrimp crackers (krupuk), even in sambal. Here's what to watch and how to eat vegan in Indonesia.
How to Ask 'Is This Vegetarian?' in Japanese, German, French and More
The word 'vegetarian' doesn't always translate cleanly, and fish is not always treated as meat. Here are the exact phrases to ask in seven languages.