Yes: even sugar can be a bummer for vegans. With Christmas dinner coming up, you have to pay attention to desserts, because refined sugar can be a gray area.
Some sugars may not be vegan. This is because sugar can originate from sugar cane or sugar beet, and the refining processes of these sources are… dubious.
Sugar beets, which are naturally white, are generally vegan-friendly as they don’t require very extensive processing. Sugarcane, however, is subjected to a refining process to obtain its white and shiny appearance. Historically, this process sometimes involves the use of bone charcoal — a material derived from animal bones.
A byproduct of the meat industry, bone char is created by heating animal bones at high temperatures until a porous black structure is formed. It has been used as a filter to whiten and whiten sugar derived from sugar cane. Although the final product does not contain animal remains, its contact with bone char raises ethical concerns for many vegans.
The good news is that modern production methods are moving away from bone char. Many manufacturers now use plant-based alternativessuch as granulated coal, to refine sugar. Still, not all sugar is created equal, and some brands may continue traditional practices.
For vegans who want to avoid non-vegan sugar, it is essential to check the labels. Most brands specify whether their products are vegan. Additionally, there are naturally vegan sugars available, including beet sugar, demerara sugar (or raw sugar) and coconut sugar, obtained from coconuts with minimal processing.
