Why is most food not vegan when ingredients are?

Most ingredients we use in cooking are naturally vegan. Think about it: there are thousands of types of fruits, vegetables, and grains, plus countless spices. You could create a unique vegan meal every day for your entire life. Yet somehow, three animals and cheese dominate most dishes.

Go to any restaurant, and you’ll see dozens of meat-heavy dishes, a few vegetarian options, and maybe one vegan dish if you’re lucky. Sometimes, you have to ask for something custom just to get a meal.

Why is it like this? Why are meat and animal products so embedded in our culture?

Milk powder is in everything: cookies, cakes, cereals, bread, even soup and candy. It doesn’t even stop there—shampoo, too. What’s the deal with that?

Willow said:
Milk powder is in everything: cookies, cakes, cereals, bread, even soup and candy. It doesn’t even stop there—shampoo, too. What’s the deal with that?

Milk in vegetable stock cubes. Seriously?

Willow said:
Milk powder is in everything: cookies, cakes, cereals, bread, even soup and candy. It doesn’t even stop there—shampoo, too. What’s the deal with that?

Wait, shampoo? Why would shampoo have milk powder in it?

@Willow
Clearly, your hair needs the same nutrients as a baby cow. /s

Luca said:
@Willow
Clearly, your hair needs the same nutrients as a baby cow. /s

Actually, there’s some science behind calcium and hair. Here’s a link: Calcium Intake, Hair Growth and Hair Loss

Luca said:
@Willow
Clearly, your hair needs the same nutrients as a baby cow. /s

LOL, fair point! :joy:

Willow said:
Milk powder is in everything: cookies, cakes, cereals, bread, even soup and candy. It doesn’t even stop there—shampoo, too. What’s the deal with that?

I wish they’d swap milk powder with something like paprika powder. Imagine the possibilities!

Willow said:
Milk powder is in everything: cookies, cakes, cereals, bread, even soup and candy. It doesn’t even stop there—shampoo, too. What’s the deal with that?

I bought frozen veggies once, and they had whey in them. WHY?

@Rayne
Whey is a byproduct from making cheese. It used to get dumped into rivers until they realized it was killing fish. Now, they sneak it into food as a cheap way to get rid of it.

Macon said:
@Rayne
Whey is a byproduct from making cheese. It used to get dumped into rivers until they realized it was killing fish. Now, they sneak it into food as a cheap way to get rid of it.

I heard about this in the U.S., but I live in the EU. Is it the same here?

@Rayne
Whey comes from the same process everywhere.

Gray said:
@Rayne
Whey comes from the same process everywhere.

Makes sense. I wonder if it’s tied to overproduction of dairy here too.

Willow said:
Milk powder is in everything: cookies, cakes, cereals, bread, even soup and candy. It doesn’t even stop there—shampoo, too. What’s the deal with that?

I get why people want meat, but why does milk powder show up as a filler ingredient everywhere? It can’t be doing much.

The key is to keep ordering vegan options whenever possible. If enough of us create demand, restaurants will start offering more choices.

Living in Japan, I’ve noticed milk, eggs, or bonito in almost everything. It’s crazy because products without these ingredients often taste just as good or better.

Wynn said:
Living in Japan, I’ve noticed milk, eggs, or bonito in almost everything. It’s crazy because products without these ingredients often taste just as good or better.

I visited Japan on my honeymoon last year (a dream come true!) and tried to stay vegan, but I’m pretty sure I accidentally ate bonito flakes in soups a few times. It’s tough because they don’t always think of it as ‘animal-derived.’ Still, I loved Japan—it was the best trip of my life.

@Beck
That sounds amazing! I’ve lived here for a while, and even I sometimes struggle to avoid animal products. Using apps like HappyCow can help a lot when looking for vegan places.

Wynn said:
@Beck
That sounds amazing! I’ve lived here for a while, and even I sometimes struggle to avoid animal products. Using apps like HappyCow can help a lot when looking for vegan places.

Thanks! I used HappyCow in the bigger cities, but in rural areas, I had to rely on translators and talking to staff. Everyone was super kind, though, and tried their best.

@Beck
Yeah, the effort on both sides definitely helps. Still, mistakes happen even when you speak the language well.