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White sugar non-vegan?

darla499
darla499 Posts: 402 Member
in Social Groups
So I've been saying that I follow a vegan diet. I don't eat any animal products. If it was meant to have a pulse or a face I don't eat it or any of it's byproducts.

Now I read an article by PETA that proposes that white sugar may be considered non-vegan.

http://www.peta.org/about/faq/Are-animal-ingredients-included-in-white-sugar.aspx

I haven't eaten much sugar in that last year and am currently in a "No Sugar Added" September challenge.

But I'd just like to hear from you guys what you think about this article. Is this something I've just been naive about and am just becoming aware of? I'm in the learning stages ... and I consider myself always evolving. But I have to admit this is completely new to me.

Thanks.

Replies

  • veg_jen
    veg_jen Posts: 20 Member
    It is true that most processed sugar is filtered through bone char.

    It is extremely difficult to avoid processed sugar if you eat any kind of food that comes in a package.

    The rest of the conversation we could have would be around "degrees" of being vegan but my thought is that you need to decide for yourself what you consider OK and not OK.
  • darla499
    darla499 Posts: 402 Member
    It is true that most processed sugar is filtered through bone char.

    It is extremely difficult to avoid processed sugar if you eat any kind of food that comes in a package.

    The rest of the conversation we could have would be around "degrees" of being vegan but my thought is that you need to decide for yourself what you consider OK and not OK.

    Thanks.

    I ate a raw diet for awhile but I'm just not "there" yet. I couldn't maintain it for the long term and I settled for eating "more" unprocessed foods. But having said that ... looking back, thinking I was eating a totally "vegan diet" I am absolutely sure that I was getting my share of sugar in hidden places. I knew this ... but still thought I was eating "totally" vegan. This just caught me by surprise.

    I'm still okay with where I'm at. As you said, we have to determine what we are and aren't okay with. Knowing this now, I will definitely continue my "no added sugars" challenge but I am going to be happy with the progress that I've made and not beat myself up for anything.

    Progress not perfection works for me :wink:
  • benol1
    benol1 Posts: 867 Member
    Hi Darla

    You are doing a good thing by giving up sugar. Not only for your own health but for the environment as well. Certainly in this country, cane sugar farming is very pesticide intensive and fertilizer run-off has been a major contributor to the decline of the Great Barrier Reef.
    At some stage you might want to check out the wholefoods plant-based (vegan) thing and thereby removing most processed foods out of your diet. Its one of the best things I've ever done.
    kind regards,

    Ben
  • _Zardoz_
    _Zardoz_ Posts: 3,987 Member
    If sugar is from sugar beet it's vegan as its not filtered through bone char. Neither is in unrefined sugar. In the UK. silver spoon is UK based so all their sugar is from sugar beet. Also recently tate and lyle have stopped filtering sugar this way.
  • darla499
    darla499 Posts: 402 Member
    Hi Darla

    You are doing a good thing by giving up sugar. Not only for your own health but for the environment as well. Certainly in this country, cane sugar farming is very pesticide intensive and fertilizer run-off has been a major contributor to the decline of the Great Barrier Reef.
    At some stage you might want to check out the wholefoods plant-based (vegan) thing and thereby removing most processed foods out of your diet. Its one of the best things I've ever done.
    kind regards,

    Ben

    Thanks Ben.

    Yep, I'm going to stick with the "no sugar" way of eating. Other than the sugar that I've now given up ... I have been successful in the vegan diet.

    I do feel much better. I feel better not only physically but about myself, that I'm doing what I can for the environment.

    Have a great day!
  • darla499
    darla499 Posts: 402 Member
    If sugar is from sugar beet it's vegan as its not filtered through bone char. Neither is in unrefined sugar. In the UK. silver spoon is UK based so all their sugar is from sugar beet. Also recently tate and lyle have stopped filtering sugar this way.

    Thanks for the info! That's cool that the sugar in the UK is from sugar beet.

    I'm going to just keep it out of my life to keep it simple for me, for now. I've learned, for myself, if it's too complicated, I won't stick to it. Going to work on unprocessed, whole foods.

    Thanks again. Have a great day.
  • vegan4lyfe2012
    vegan4lyfe2012 Posts: 1,257 Member
    :happy: Beet sugar is also available in the U.S.
  • darla499
    darla499 Posts: 402 Member
    :happy: Beet sugar is also available in the U.S.

    Thanks.

    What about date sugar ... is that safe?
  • darla499
    darla499 Posts: 402 Member
    I just found this article on vegan sweeteners.

    http://yummyplants.com/vegan-nutrition/vegan-sugar-and-other-natural-sweetener-options/
  • meeper123
    meeper123 Posts: 3,347 Member
    ewwwwwwwwwwww! ok no more sugar for this gal! Stevia is still good right?
  • darla499
    darla499 Posts: 402 Member
    ewwwwwwwwwwww! ok no more sugar for this gal! Stevia is still good right?

    Stevia was one of the sweeteners listed in that "vegan" safe sugars article.

    I know. Bone char? Gross.
  • meeper123
    meeper123 Posts: 3,347 Member
    ewwwwwwwwwwww! ok no more sugar for this gal! Stevia is still good right?

    Stevia was one of the sweeteners listed in that "vegan" safe sugars article.

    I know. Bone char? Gross.

    I died a little inside when i learned gummy bears have ground up bones in them lol
  • darla499
    darla499 Posts: 402 Member

    I died a little inside when i learned gummy bears have ground up bones in them lol

    I know!

    I was surprised to see sugar in almost EVERYTHING!
  • veg_jen
    veg_jen Posts: 20 Member
    Marshmallows have gelatin as well. Crushing.
  • benol1
    benol1 Posts: 867 Member
    Hi Darla,

    :happy: Beet sugar is also available in the U.S.

    Thanks.

    What about date sugar ... is that safe?

    Apparently, date sugar is just powdered dates, meaning its a whole food and as well as the sugar you are getting the phyto-nutrients and fiber/fibre. If you can get it - use it (in moderation, of course!).
    Check out this short video which rates nine sweeteners for nutritional content:
    http://nutritionfacts.org/video/the-healthiest-sweetener/
    kind regards,

    Ben
  • darla499
    darla499 Posts: 402 Member
    Apparently, date sugar is just powdered dates, meaning its a whole food and as well as the sugar you are getting the phyto-nutrients and fiber/fibre. If you can get it - use it (in moderation, of course!).
    Check out this short video which rates nine sweeteners for nutritional content:
    http://nutritionfacts.org/video/the-healthiest-sweetener/
    kind regards,

    Ben

    Thanks Ben!

    Yep .... I finally figured out that date sugar is supposed to be considered the "healthiest" of them all because it's a whole food.

    Went to the health food store yesterday to buy some but they were out.

    I'm considering making some of my own.

    Thanks for the link!

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