If you are a vegetarian and feel quite sure of what you are picking up from the markets as 'pure vegetarian' food, then beware! Surprisingly, there are some common food items which are easily passed with a 'vegetarian' tag but can actually be 'non-vegetarian'. Some of the ingredients are derived from animal fat or even meat products.
So next time, before taking a bite from these 'veg' food items, make sure of what goes in your mouth, take a look at some of them:
Marshmallows and Gummy Bears
Everybody loves them, but yes your favourite marshmallows and gummy bears are false vegetarian foods. They contain gelatin which is derived from animal products.
Cheese
So while you were happy eating all the different varities of cheese available in the market (and thinking it to be veg), read further. There are certain kinds of cheese that are made from enzymes present in the gut of animals. The enzyme is called either rennet or chymosin, which is derived from the stomach of young animals such as lambs and calves. For instance, Parmesan cheese is usually made using the inner linings of the cows' stomach.
Orange Juice
Many fancy foreign brands manufacturing Orange juice might not promise to be as juicy as you think. As some of the juices often contain omega-3s, which are sometimes derived from fish like anchovies, tilapia, and sardines.
Salad Dressing
You plan to eat a veg salad thinking that it is your safest bet. It may not be! The sauces or the dressings that make a bland salad look tasty, may contain egg.
Processed Sugar
The sparkling white sugar doesn't get its colour from bleach. Many sugar manufacturers process the sugar using bone char, which is made from the bones of animals. To avoid sugar filtered with bone char, purchase unrefined sugar or buy from brands that don't use bone char.
Naan
The very 'desi' naan that is commonly made in India might not be 100 percent vegetarian. It is a staple in Mughlai/Indian cuisine, but many a times the dough for naan is kneaded in eggs for giving the bread softness and elasticity. So the next time you are about to have it with your favourite vegetable dish, just ask the chef whether it has eggs or not.
BBQ-flavoured chips
The BBQ flavoured chips are fried in animal fat or might use meaty flavours for giving that smoky and meaty taste. So, next time be careful about what you choose to gulp down.
