Is Bread Vegan?

The typical vegan diet excludes poultry, meat, fish, eggs, dairy, and any other foods made or processed with animal products. But did you know that sometimes includes bread? Surprisingly enough, not all bread is vegan (via Healthline). That's because some breads are actually made with animal products.

In its purest form, bread is considered a vegan food. The main ingredients are yeast, flour, water, and salt, none of which contain any of the food groups vegans are not supposed to eat. However, some brands and types of bread contain fats and sweeteners that are made or processed with animal products.

For instance, some breads are made with monoglycerides and diglycerides, which are fats and emulsifiers that are used to improve the texture of bread. While monoglycerides and diglycerides are often derived from soybean oil, they can sometimes come from animal fat. This is also true of lecithin, a food emulsifier that is sometimes sourced from egg yolks. In addition, some breads may include eggs, honey, butter, or milk in their recipes.

Since you can't tell if breads containing monoglycerides or lecithin are made with animal products or soybean oil just by looking at the packaging, you might want to avoid eating breads with these ingredients altogether. Fortunately, there are plenty of other breads that are completely free of animal products (via Healthline). Sourdough, pita, ciabatta, baguette, focaccia, kosher bread, and Ezekiel bread are all naturally vegan. In addition, flatbreads are often vegan because they are less processed than other breads, like brioche.

If you're looking for some vegan brands to buy at the grocery store, there are quite a few options to choose from, some of which are even organic or gluten-free. Dave's Bread is non-GMO and certified organic (via Women's Health). Their loaves are completely vegan and are made with 100 percent whole grains. One Degree Organics is another vegan-friendly brand. Their breads are certified organic and made without refined sugar. Unbun also makes vegan and gluten-free bread. Their loaves are grain-free and often contain pumpkin, flax, and chia seeds. Other vegan brands include Light White Rice Loaf, Rudi's Organic Bakery, Nature's Own, and Mighty Manna Bread.