By Jeanne Yacoubou, MS
VRG Research Director
A staff member at the VRG spotted a July 2012 post at http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com written by a vegan who asserted that at P.F. Chang’s, “…all the dishes are cooked in oyster sauce [and so are not vegetarian or vegan.]” Since this information was contradictory to what we reported in 2008 about the P.F. Chang’s vegetarian-labeled menu items, (http://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2008issue4/2008_issue4_whos_veggie_friendly.php), we contacted the chain to see if there had been an ingredient change.
The Marketing Coordinator at P.F. Chang’s told us in August 2012 that he would contact Chang’s Culinary Department to determine if the oyster sauce was animal-based. The Culinary Department relayed to him that: “…all of our vegetarian-marked items on our menu do not contain any seafood or animal products. Our ‘Vegetarian Oyster Sauce’ is actually made with mushrooms and no actual oyster or shellfish.”
The VRG also asked the Marketing Coordinator at P.F. Chang’s if any of the menu items noted as “vegetarian” contained honey, egg, or dairy ingredients. He assured us: “No, they do not, and as long as cane sugar is not an issue all of the items marked ‘vegetarian’ on our menu can also be considered ‘vegan.’”
More information about the vegetarian menu options at P.F. Chang’s may be found on their website: http://www.pfchangs.com/menu/
Another VRG article about P.F. Chang’s vegetarian dishes may be found here: http://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2011issue1/2011_issue1_pf_changs.php
For information on food ingredients, fast food, and for other information of interest to vegetarians and vegans, please subscribe to our enewsletter at http://www.vrg.org/vrgnews/
The contents of this article, our website, and our other publications, including the Vegetarian Journal, are not intended to provide personal medical advice. Medical advice should be obtained from a qualified health professional. We often depend on product and ingredient information from company employees or company statements.Information does change and mistakes are always possible. Please use your own best judgment about whether a product is suitable for you. Further research or confirmation may be warranted.
There are many ways to stay connected to The Vegetarian Resource Group!
Get our blog delivered right to your inbox: http://feeds.feedburner.com/TheVRGBlog
Like us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/thevegetarianresourcegroup
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/VegResourceGrp