There are now many products that are clearly labeled with a "vegan" symbol. This makes shopping for vegan products much easier. However, there are also some foods on supermarket shelves that are "naturally" vegan, but are not specifically labeled. In fact, there are above all In the sweets category, there are some products you wouldn't have thought were actually free of animal ingredients. I'm introducing ten of these products today.

Why are these vegan products not explicitly labeled as such?

You're probably familiar with the warning "May contain traces of peanuts, milk, and egg." This is an allergy warning. It states that the product z.B. is produced in the same facility as products containing milk, peanuts, or eggs. Therefore, it is theoretically possible for very fine particles (e.g., from a peanut) to get into the product. For someone with a severe peanut allergy, this information can be vital. For everyone else, this information is not so important. The product itself is produced without the ingredients listed in the allergy information – making it vegan in itself. However, there are also vegans who do not want to consume such products for the reasons listed. Ultimately, that is up to each individual. 😊

In any case, this labeling is ultimately the reason why manufacturers are not allowed to label their products with the well-known V-Label.

The foods listed here are sweets, so you can't exactly call them "healthy." But you should treat yourself every now and then, right? 😋

One more thing: All the products I mention are purely plant-based. However, products from the same range, the same brand, or even similar products from other brands may contain animal-based ingredients. Therefore, it's best to always double-check the ingredient list when purchasing related products to be sure.

10 "hidden" vegan sweets

1. Ritter Sport Marzipan

Let's start with my personal favorite: the "Marzipan" variety from Ritter Sport, in the bright red packaging. It's made entirely without animal ingredients, thanks primarily to the dark chocolate. You probably know that many dark chocolates are naturally vegan, including the one used here. I was super happy when I found out this variety is vegan, as it was one of my absolute favorites even before I became vegan. Ritter Sport has since released other vegan varieties ("Dark Almond Quinoa" and "Dark Whole-Nut Amaranth"). These even carry the V-Label.

2. Sweets from Hitschler

Not all Hitschler products are vegan, but some are. The UFOs, the Sausage Strings, the Volles Rohr Mix, and the Snippets all contain no animal ingredients. Great, right? And delicious, too. On the manufacturer's website you will find an overview of all vegan sweets.

3. Apple strudel and puff pastry

When you think of apple strudel and puff pastry, you immediately think of butter, right? In fact, many ready-made puff pastries (z.B. from REWE Beste Wahl or EDEKA Gut & Cheap) and also apple strudel from the freezer (z.B. by Coppenrath & meadow) vegan. Puff pastry, in particular, is versatile.And you save a lot of time! The only downside to these convenience foods—aside from the not exactly sparing use of sugar—is the palm oil they often contain.

4. Skittles Crazy Sours

Good news for all Skittles fans: The sour version is vegan! Unfortunately, regular Skittles contain carmine. Carmine is a coloring derived from cochineal insects, which is used in the red Skittles – making the regular Skittles non-vegan. However, the sour version in the light green packaging doesn't contain carmine! So, if you like your sour side, you can (more or less) indulge with a clear conscience.

5. nimm2 Soft

nimm2? More like "take the whole pack"! At least, that's how it always was for me. Vegans have to avoid the classic version or even the laughing gums, because they contain beeswax and gelatin, respectively. The nimm2 Soft, on the other hand, are made entirely without animal ingredients. They may not taste exactly like the candy, but they're at least just as sticky. 😉.

6. Chipsfrisch Hungarian

We've probably all had the Funnyfrisch chips at least once, right? The "Hungarian" variety wasn't vegan until now, or even vegetarian, because it apparently contained game. That's changed. The manufacturer has recently dispensed with this additive, making the spicy chips entirely plant-based. Many other Chipsfrisch varieties, such as Chakalaka or Oriental (but not all versions!), are also vegan. On the manufacturer's website You can see whether a product is suitable for vegans. It's just a shame that vegan doesn't necessarily mean healthy...

Photo by Sean McClintock on Unsplash

7. NicNac's BBQ

A similar case to Skittles. The original peanut-in-batter coating is unfortunately not vegan, as it contains sweet whey powder, cheese powder, and other dairy products. The BBQ version, however, does without all of that! And they don't taste all that different from regular NicNacs, in my opinion.

8. Crunchy Nougat Bits/Nestlé CINI MINIS

Those who follow a plant-based diet don't have to forgo sugary, unhealthy cereals. Even among the classics, there are vegan products. Those who like chocolate can opt for Nougat Bits from ALDI. Nestlé's CINI MINIS are also dairy-free—but unfortunately, they're from Nestlé... It should be noted again that "the same" products from other manufacturers are not automatically plant-based. So, when in doubt, always check the ingredients list.

9. Manner Neapolitan Waffles

The Manner wafer was already around in my grandparents' time and is still a classic. Did you know that the hazelnuts used in these wafers originally came from near Naples, which is why the wafers were dubbed "Neapolitans"? The best part: The wafer wafers with hazelnut cream have been vegan for a very long time – if not forever! This makes them one of the vegan "beginner sweets." Just like the last sweet on my list...

10. Oreos

Oreos are a classic, but that's exactly why they can't be left out of this list.The Doppelkeks (double biscuit) experienced a huge boom in Germany a few years ago and remains a popular product today—despite some criticism of the manufacturer, Mondelēz International. The confectionery also gained popularity among vegans, as it was one of those products that was vegan but didn't look like it. The creamy consistency of the vanilla cream between the two biscuits suggests that it contains milk or at least whey powder. However, the ingredients are all harmless (sugar syrup, vegetable oil, starch). The "Chocolate Creme" and "Mini" versions are also entirely plant-based.

If you would like to learn more about vegan nutrition, mindfulness or sustainability, take a look here over.

Photo by SHAYAN IZADI ☄️ on Unsplash