Customer Reviews

Animal Ingredients A-Z

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you're starting out in veganism, or even just trying to be a strict vegetarian, you probably want to have this book handy, although the first thing it will do is depress you. Did you know that processed sugar is refined using charcoaled animal bones? Surprise! The majority of the book is simply an alphabetical listing of animal-product-containing substances; you use it as a reference when reading ingredient labels in your cupboard or in the grocery store. Often I wished the authors had included more information about what the animal source of an ingredient was -- they don't always include this information, but they always do mention the types of products the ingredient appears in and they usually suggests vegan alternatives. There are some things about the book that make me suspect its reliability in parts, like a tendency to ascribe all sorts of problems to animal ingredients (many people have allergic reactions to wool, etc etc) when it should be enough for the authors to say that consuming such and such a product is bad because it is an animal product -- no one who isn't convinced of the moral superiority of vegetarianism will be looking at this book anyway. They make a number of statements about vitamin B12, some of which contradict each other -- probably the result of compiling the different work of a number of authors into one book. And, of course, there is the fact that none of the authors identify themselves by name. However... a chapter-by-chapter bibliography is supplied in the back, and the EG Smith Collective has also contacted some companies to ask whether their products contain animal products, and in Lipton Tea's case reprints their response. The book is the best (I mean, the only) source I have come across to confirm or repudiate rumors that such and such is an animal-derived product. Certainly worth having if you are a vegan.

An excellent and very informative resource for any vegan, vegetarian or anyone who's concerned about what exactly it is you're actually eating.

I'm an ovo-lacto vegetarian myself and I was surprised at how many things they sneakily put into our food. I was aware of some of the more obvious things (renet, gelatin, etc.), but still stunned at things I would have never thought could contain animal products - such as beer, wine, some waxes used to polish fruits to make them look more fresh - it's astounding!

The only contention I have with this book is that it focuses mainly on American products, being written in the States it makes sense, but for a future edition I would love to see more Canadian and maybe European products added to the book.

Extremely well researched, using a variety of sources (which can be found at the end of the book) - definately a book to pick up.

I personally think this is a great book for beginning vegans or anyone who is concerned with products having animal ingredients in them. It covers a wide variety of topics - everything from common myths, to nutrition, to the names of animal ingredients and what they are. The book is set up in a way that's easy to read. You could use it as a reference guide to let you know if a certian product contains animal ingredients, but my personal favorite chapter is the one on nutrition. Many new vegans have concerns about what vitamins they need and where to get them from. This book explains it all. I give it two thumbs up. I highly recommend everyone buy and read it several times. It's a very nice addition to any book collection. --Reviewed by Melissa White

This is a great book for vegans new and old. Very good information to help you eliminate all animal derived ingredients (if that is your choice) or to distinguish between animal and veggie ingredients. I found this book indispensable as a new vegan and miss it now (i gave it to a new vegan and she never gave it back *grin*). Now that it's available again I'll be purchasing a new copy!

I purchased this book because the industry puts so many pork by products in foods under various names, that it is difficult for Muslims to know exactly what is in some of these products. Certain Muslim groups also don't eat meat that is not slaughted in the name of God, which means that the supermarket meat is of limits. (many Jews also only eat "kosher meat")Therefore, it's often not just pork that the Muslims must watch out for in these products, it is also any meat by product. While Muslims do eat dairy products, this book is an invaluable guide in aiding them to discover the hidden meat by products in food stuffs. I had no idea about many things on the list, and frankly I'm appauled at how sneaky the industry is in slipping meat by products into our foods under various chemical names, and even in wax coatings of some produce and wax paper. I was also shocked to read about how many companies listed such as Heinz and Lipton give vague responses regarding the content of the "natural flavorings" listed in their product.

Contrary to Mr. or Ms. Net(@disinfo.com or whatever...)'s review, the truth is that mono and diglycerides ARE, in fact, usually derived from animal products. Not to start a debate, but from all of the resources I've referenced (including having called many manufacturers of food products), Mr./Ms. Net's "disinfo" is wrong. It just goes to show how unwilling our culture is to admit to the far-reaching powers of the meat and dairy industries. Realize that you and everyone else who is a part of any form of Western Culture is subjected to images and other various forms of propaghanda daily that try to dispell what organizations like C.o.K. have uncovered: that we are lied to and that various industries pay lots of money to see that we are ignorant of the truth (i.e. the original four food groups)--we don't need animal products to live, survive, make us strong, etc., and it's better for us that we don't consume such products.

All in all, this guide will provide the health-conscious compassionate consumer on his/her way to knowing once and for all whether certain food products are "safe" and cruelty free. On a personal note: beware of what you are subjected to in your lives (what you read, hear, see may not necessarily be the truth and in America, it's usually not).

Being a vegetarian for nine years I thought I knew what ingredients to look for. This book was a shocking truth to exactly what I didn't know what was in my food. The shocking truth about what gelatin is...... you wouldn't think pudding, gummy bears, and other sweet items contain this hidden ingredient. Gelatin is protein obtained by boiling skin, tendons, ligaments, or bones with water from cattle and hogs.

This word defined along with many other words that comes from animals are in this book.
I loved how the book is layed out in a guidelined setting. IF you
wonder like I did about what your eating vegetarian or not this book is a great book to have.

A very helpful and informative book for those of us who struggle with exactly what we can and can't eat as vegans. I highly recommend this to those new to the lifestyle.

in a good way. It's amazing where animal products show up in our products. Sneaky meat people. I recommend this book for vegans, vegis, life lovers, and anyone who want's to know just what they are buying.

This is a book for anyone who is concerned about the source of what they eat, wear, or use. IÕm thankful for the revised edition. Fortunately, manufactures are getting ÒhipÓ to the fact that there are millions of people around the world who want to know the many sources of products like stearic acid and diazolidinyl urea (both available from either synthetic or non-animal sources). If you are sensitive and/or allergic to anything - this book is for you. If you are vegan or a vegetarian - this book is for you.