July 2009
1 post
McVities Fruit Shortcake
Another vegan biscuit from McVities. I’m not a big fan personally - too sweet and the currants get stuck in your teeth. But any port in a storm…
June 2009
1 post
Walkers salt n vinegar now NOT VEGAN
Infuriatingly, Walkers have changed the ingredients of their salt and vinegar crisps and they now contain milk. Curse them.
May 2009
2 posts
Ritter Sport
Ah Ritter Sport, so glamorous, so sophisticated, so European. And yet essentially (and despite what their endearingly baroque website would have us think) just some chocolate. Very nice chocolate though, and Dark and Extra Fine Dark varieties are vegan.
Fry's peppermint/chocolate cream
I don’t think I have ever seen anyone buying or eating one of these bizarrely enduring and deeply old-fashioned chocolate bars. Maybe their whole market these days consists of sweet-toothed vegans.
April 2009
2 posts
Starburst
I haven’t really kept up with developments in the world of sweets, but it has come to my attention that Opal Fruits have not only changed their name to Starburst, but have also diversified into a bewildering array of sub-varieties.
In an uncertain world, it nevertheless appears that Starburst ‘Original’ (UK) is/are vegan. If not exactly nutritious.
Lindt dark chocolate bunny
A fantastic seasonal discovery, the Lindt dark chocolate gold bunny is a bit sweeter and less intense than some dark chocolate. And fulfils the Easter requirement of being a) hollow and b) shaped like an animal (though many of course prefer the classic ‘unborn animal’ - or ‘egg’ - shape).
Whether you deem that food in the shape of animals is Not Vegan, or just a bit...
December 2008
1 post
November 2008
3 posts
Crumpets
Nobody should have to survive the winter without crumpets, and fortunately we don’t have to. Of the many brands out there I know that Sunblest and Warburtons are vegan, and I imagine lots of others are too.
Co-op Bakery doughnuts
Although the Co-op Bakery line of fresh baked goods does not carry a full list of ingredients and is therefore not above suspicion, their jam doughnuts (five in a bag) DO clearly state ‘suitable for vegetarians and vegans’. It would take a stronger woman than I not to take them at their word. VEGAN DOUGHNUTS!
Peanut Snap
Variations on this snack are widely available - it’s basically some peanuts welded into the shape of a bar by the addition of large amounts of sugar and glucose syrup. Num.
October 2008
4 posts
Co-op jam filled mini iced buns
As the name possibly suggests, these are cheap, nasty blobs of additive-ridden sugar and fat. Clearly labelled ‘suitable for vegans’, they are however NOT suitable for anyone looking for a healthy option. Dirty but delicious…
(There are five buns in a pack and the jam varieties are allegedly raspberry, plum and apple, but you’d be hard-pressed to distinguish any flavour...
Branston pickle
No reason why it *wouldn’t* be vegan, I suppose, but you never know. (I found milk powder listed in the ingredients of my washing up liquid the other day). Anyway, I’ve been craving pickle lately so it’s good to know that I can indulge.
Divine Chocolate
70% dark and mint dark chocolate bars are vegan. And all Fairtrade of course.
Kettle Chips
Yet more crisps. How I love them though.
The following flavours are vegan: Lightly Salted, No Added Salt, Sea Salt and Balsamic Vinegar, and Sweet Chilli.
NB. Their nutritional labelling and website information is exemplary.
September 2008
14 posts
Pringles
Once you pop… you don’t have to stop, because Original, Paprika and Texas BBQ Sauce flavours are vegan.
Doritos
(Also owned by Walkers.) Lightly Salted and Chilli Heatwave varieties are vegan.
Walkers Crisps
Walkers now seem to have a near monopoly when it comes to the potato crisp and its variations. Of their basic crisps, Ready Salted, Salt & Vinegar, Worcester Sauce and Prawn Cocktail are ok for vegans. Also Square Crisps in Ready Salted and Salt & Vinegar, and Salt n Shake.
Sadly, Monster Munch is Not Vegan.
Veal = compassionate???? →
Matthew Fort meets some farmers whose response to the ‘unpalatable’ fact of bull calves being slaughtered at birth so we can keep drinking cow milk was to, um, go into veal production. Most bizarre justification ever.
New York Bakery Co. Bagels
All their varieties of bagel (plain, cinnamon and raisin, onion, multiseed and sesame) are suitable for vegans.
Hobnobs - addendum
Coincidentally, Hobnobs are currently half price in Morrisons. Woo!
Hobnobs
It can be hard to find a biscuit that doesn’t contain some rogue element, e.g. butter, whey powder, lactose or animal-derived fatty acids. But you can always rely on the Hobnob. (NOT the chocolate-coated ones, obviously. Sorry.)
Green & Blacks chocolate
The following varieties are all a) suitable for vegans and b) extremely nummy:
Dark 70%
Dark 85%
Maya Gold
Dark Cherry
Dark Ginger
Also vegan: Green & Blacks hot chocolate powder. Unless you put animal milk in it.
NB Green & Blacks have recently changed their allergen advice and now do NOT claim these products are vegan. The recipes do NOT contain any animal ingredients - but they...
1 tag
Calippo
The world of ice cream does shrink quite a lot once you become vegan, but the trusty ice lolly remains, including the pleasingly tubular (and ubiquitous) Calippo.
The third rule of Accidentally Vegan...
… is that these are mainly UK products, as I’m in the UK. Own-brand UK supermarket products will also be mentioned.
The second rule of Accidentally Vegan...
… is that just because something is vegan, doesn’t mean it’s good for you.
The first rule of Accidentally Vegan...
… is that I am not in a position to certify the 100% veganicity of any of the products featured. I just read the ingredients.
