Is Lactic Acid Vegan?
Good news! Lactic acid is almost always suitable for vegans. However, it can sometimes be a byproduct of the meat and dairy industry. So, how do we know when foods containing lactic acid are OK to eat on a vegan diet?
Lactic acid is a sometimes naturally-occurring, and sometimes manmade preservative/flavoring found in many packaged foods. It has a tangy flavor, and comes from the fermentation of different foods, including plant-based foods. In fact, it’s naturally present in popular vegan foods like pickles, olives, dairy-free yogurt, sourdough bread, kimchi, and more.
There’s no way for vegans to know for sure if all the lactic acid in products they buy comes from plant sources, unless they were to contact the manufacturer. After all, manmade lactic acid could come from meat or dairy sources. However, it’s safe for us to assume that in fermented plant foods and vegan-certified products, the lactic acid is vegan-friendly.