Vegan sugar?
Posted by jetpuff eatzpplz on Aug 17, 2007 · Member since Aug 2007 · 2 posts
I'm a new veganism and needed some help with something. In a lot of desert recipies I found here the ingrediants require "vegan sugar". I thought that sugar came from a plant and was already vegan? I don't want to go making cookies with the wrong kind of sugar, so I'm curious to know what makes "vegan sugar" vegan and why regular sugar isn't vegan, or if there is a difference at all.
Thanks in advance!
Most sugar is processed with bone char. Some vegans don't use it because of that.
I think it's vegan, anyway, as it doesn't actually contain any meat or animal byproducts. Bone char is used in the process, but not IN the sugar. And, in terms of impact, getting processed sugar isn't going to change the meat or dairy industry in any way, shape, or form. So, personally, when I see "vegan sugar" in health food stores ... I think it's a bit of a rip off. The price is insane, IMO.
But, if you prefer to avoid it - they have sugar processed without bone char. For an added price. And then there are many other options with which to sweeten stuff like maple syrup, agave syrup, fruit sugar, etc. Just go down the health food aisle for baking needs. They have tons of options beyond processed sugar. Processed sugar isn't at all healthy, anyway. So, alternative options are always good.
And, in terms of impact, getting processed sugar isn't going to change the meat or dairy industry in any way, shape, or form. So, personally, when I see "vegan sugar" in health food stores ... I think it's a bit of a rip off. The price is insane, IMO.
Not sure I agree... say everyone used vegan sugar (organic sugar, raw sugar whatever you want to call it) then the cattle/slaughterhouse industry would have no one to sell bones to (which IS the source of bones for bone char for sugar processing) so that would be an large impact. Of course that is totally idealistic but I'm just saying... ;)
I totally see your point E but am not going to go ahead and buy regular sugar just because it isn't going to make a big impact.
Honestly, I get the other kind for health reasons... but to me bone char is just another good reason on the list to not buy refined white sugar.
BTW I've never seen sugar called "vegan sugar" on the package. I buy organic sugar, yes it's more expensive. But it probably keeps me from using sugar so liberallly, which is not a bad thing, right?! ;)
Well, there are other resources to which the meat industry can and does sell bones. Sugar is just one of many industries. So, economically, it really won't make any longterm impact. Not enough to stop dairy or meat factories, unfortunately. My theory is that in order to stop an industry you have to "hit 'em where it hurts most." But, I do see your point.
I don't use processed sugar for health reasons anyway. I try to eat as unprocessed as possible. To the extent that I even make my own crackers!
I have seen sugar marked as vegan. Once. In a "hole in the wall" health food store. It was some ridiculous price too - even more than the organic sugar.
I actually didn't know that organic sugar meant vegan sugar. I thought it just meant they got bone char from the organic meat industry. Learn something new everyday. :)
Well, there are other resources to which the meat industry can and does sell bones. Sugar is just one of many industries. So, economically, it really won't make any longterm impact. Not enough to stop dairy or meat factories, unfortunately. My theory is that in order to stop an industry you have to "hit 'em where it hurts most." But, I do see your point.
I don't use processed sugar for health reasons anyway. I try to eat as unprocessed as possible. To the extent that I even make my own crackers!
I have seen sugar marked as vegan. Once. In a "hole in the wall" health food store. It was some ridiculous price too - even more than the organic sugar.
I actually didn't know that organic sugar meant vegan sugar. I thought it just meant they got bone char from the organic meat industry. Learn something new everyday. :)
But the diiference is sugar is a major major staple in every household.
But the difference is sugar is a major major staple in every household.
True. But, we all use oil even more than sugar. Bone char is used to refine crude oil.
It's also used to remove fluoride from water. It's used to filter aquarium water. It's used in the process of making vaseline. That's just off the top of my head. I'm sure there are other uses.
But, with the oil aspect, this guarantees that bone char will always have a large market - regardless of what happens to sugar.
Not that I'm encouraging anyone to use sugar. Actually, I discourage its use whenever I speak to family, friends, acquaintences ... strangers, lol. I discourage it for the negative nutritional vaue it has.
I just like to keep the economic impact of avoiding sugar realistic. There are many other, better reasons to avoid it!
http://www.billingtons.co.uk/home/about-our-sugar/why-choose-unrefined
these guys mark their sugar as suitable for vegans, i dont know if it is available in the USA though, ive never seen it there when ive been visitng my family but then again we dont each much table sugar. i prefer unrefined sugars anyways and i think that they tend to be vegan as it is the refining process that uses the bone char as i understand it. the only quibble i have with unrefined sugars is that, cos of their colour, they tend to make your baking a different colour (better flavour though IMO!) and sometimes its disconcerting to pull out a plain sponge cake that is brown!! totalyl an aesthetic thing!!
do you eat sugar if you go for a cup of tea in a cafe nd they have those little sachets? i try to avoid those unless the tea/coffee is really bitter.