By Jeanne Yacoubou, MS

Gellan Gum
Alternative name: E418
Commercial source: microbial fermentation (Sphingomonas elodea on corn, sugar beet or sugar cane)
Used in: beverages (esp. plant-based beverages), dairy, confections, jams, jellies, pie fillings, salad dressings, sauces, cosmetics, personal care and oral care products, pharmaceuticals, pet food, household cleaners
Used for: Gelling, texturizing, thickening, stabilizing, suspending, film-forming, bulking and structuring
Definition: A naturally occurring polysaccharide (carbohydrate) used mainly as a stabilizer & suspension agent in beverages, gellan gum is a common gelatin alternative.
Major Manufacturers: Jason at CP Kelco told us they use “corn syrup” as a fermentation medium. http://www.cpkelco.com/products-gellan-gum.html

Summer at Cinogel Biotech informed us they use “cane sugar or glucose.” She did not respond with more detail. www.cinogel.com

Brooke at TIC Gums wrote by email that they “…use corn derivatives to make the glucose syrup for the fermentation process.” https://www.ticgums.com/products/category/gellan-gum.html

Wen Wu from Opal Biotech stated that they “…use glucose powder to produce gellan gum. Glucose is derived from corn. If requested, we could use cane sugar.” www.opalbiotech.com

Jean-Baptiste of DuPont Danisco responded that “Our plant is located in Europe, and we use some local beet sugar to produce [gellan gum].” http://www.danisco.com/about-dupont/news/news-archive/2017/dupont-nutrition-health-increases-the-appeal-of-dairy-free-drinks/

Classification: Vegan
Definition updated: August 2018

For more information: https://www.vrg.org/blog/…/gellan-gum-in-many-non-dairy-beverages-is-all-vegetabl…

https://foodingredientfacts.org/facts-on-food-ingredients/sources-of-food-ingredients/gellan-gum/

http://www1.lsbu.ac.uk/water/gellan.html

For information on other ingredients, see https://www.vrg.org/ingredients/index.php

Vegetarian Resource Group Nutrition Advisor Reed Mangels, PhD, RD answer the following question in the latest Vegetarian Journal Nutrition Hotline column: “I drink several cups of black tea every day. Recently, I found out that I’m anemic, and my doctor told me to stop drinking tea because it could be interfering with iron absorption. Do I really need to give up my tea?”

Do read the entire Nutrition Hotline column, visit: Nutrition Hotline

To subscribe to Vegetarian Journal, go to: https://www.vrg.org/member/2013sv.php

Please book mark and use this link. Eligible shopping will support our vegan education and activism. http://smile.amazon.com/ch/52-1279034

About Amazon Smile: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/chpf/about/ref=smi_se_rspo_laas_aas

The Vegetarian Resource Group is an activist non-profit organization that does outreach all-year-long. For example, VRG tables at different events throughout the USA and also sends literature free of charge to other groups/individuals doing educational activities in schools, hospitals, camps, restaurants, libraries, etc. Our ability to continue doing this depends on people like you! Your donations allow us to promote the vegan message whenever we’re called upon for assistance. Please consider becoming a monthly or quarterly donor to The Vegetarian Resource Group.

Thanks so much for your support. You can become a monthly or quarterly donor online here: Donate to The Vegetarian Resource Group

DC VegFest
https://dcvegfest.com/
Saturday, September 15th, 2018
Yards Park
Washington, DC

York Harvest VegFest
https://www.yorkvegfest.com/
Saturday, September 22nd, 2018
Coulser Park
York, PA

Charlottesville Vegan Roots Fest
http://www.cvillevegfest.org/
Saturday, Sept. 29th, 2018
Washington Park
Charlottesville, VA

In the latest issue of Vegetarian Journal, Chef Nancy Berkoff shares Egyptian recipes she gathered when visiting her former students living in Egypt. Enjoy Kasheri with Brown Rice, Brown Rice Mujaddara, Makloubeh (layered eggplant), Vegan Kofta, Orange and Olive Salad, Khoshaf (compote), and Egyptian Lemonade.

Find the complete article here: Vegan Recipes from Egypt

Subscribe to Vegetarian Journal:
https://www.vrg.org/member/2013sv.php

Urban Soul Grill Photo

The Vegetarian Resource Group maintains an online Guide to Vegan/Vegetarian Restaurants in the USA and Canada. Below are some recent additions. The entire guide can be found here: VRG Online Veggie Restaurant Guide

To support the updating of this online restaurant guide, please donate at:
Donate to The Vegetarian Resource Group

Here are some new additions to VRG’s guide:

Beaut Burger
267 S. Avenida Del Convento
Tucson, AZ 85745
Beaut Burger has a little kitchen inside a repurposed shipping container. This new Westside concept specializes in vegan burgers, making everything in-house, from the patty to the slow-fermented English muffin bun (Gluten free options available). The minimalist names on here – B1, B2, B3, etc. – bely the whimsical nature of the menu such as “burgers” with peanut butter and tamarind chutney or the herbaceous Middle Eastern condiment called zhoug, which goes on an otherwise normal combination of ranch, lettuce, tomato and cucumber. But then there are also the crowd pleasers; those classic American burgers with a plant-based twist. Outdoor seating available.

Blue Sage Vegan Bistro
River Market’s Ottenheimer Market Hall
400 President Clinton Ave.
Little Rock, AR 72201
If you are out and about in Little Rock, make a quick stop at Blue Sage Vegan Bistro for a delicious breakfast or a quick lunch. This establishment serves comfort food classics. If you are craving chick’n and waffles or specialty fries with vegan aioli or even just a refreshing smoothie, Blue Sage is the go-to.

Chili Mustard Onions
3411 Brush St.
Detroit, MI 48201
Chili Mustard Onions, the city’s first 100 percent vegan Coney Island restaurant, is open for business in Detroit’s Brush Park area. The small 30-seat shop offers meatless — and mostly organic — versions of many of the Coney standards. There are Coney dogs, chili cheese fries, a version of the Hani, a gyro, a “beetball” sub, a chicken parmesan sub, a “Big Mock,” nachos, potato skins, fries, waffle fries, soft serve ice cream, cheesecake, and more.

CombinAsian
2324 N. Miami Ave.
Miami, FL 33127
Casual restaurant serving Asian inspired vegan fast food and sweets. Some of the more popular offerings are the sushi burritos and teriyaki bowls with meatless proteins, rice, lettuce, and green peppers and kimbap pow bowls served with rice, cucumber, pickled yellow radishes, sesame kale, and soy sauce. They also offer a few American dishes as well, like vegan mac n’ cheese and chick’n tenders. They host events and are kid friendly with plenty of board games. They have a brightly colored interior design and a DJ booth. Outdoor seating available.

Dark Hall Coffee
3343 N. 7th Ave. #3
Phoenix, AZ 85013
It can be hard to find vegan pastries sometimes, but if you’re in Phoenix, you now have more options. Dark Hall Coffee is all-vegan, from the pastries to the house-made plant milks. Contrary to early reports, it’s not a Goth coffeehouse, though you may hear Bauhaus playing occasionally.

Juicy Beets
3900 Paradise Rd.
Las Vegas, NV 89169
Put Juicy Beets on the list of vegan restaurants you didn’t know you needed before. Not just a lunch and dinner spot, they stay open to 2am every night, with DJs playing house/techno music for the late night crowd. Whenever you’re there, try the Banh Mi, the Beyond Burger, or one of their specialty bowls. They also have a full bar, but if that’s not to your taste, they also offer cappuccinos, espresso, and an organic juice bar.

The Jazzy Vegetarian Vegan Café
Sanctuary Brewing Company
147 1st Ave. East
Hendersonville, NC 28792
Located inside the Sanctuary Brewing Company. Weekly menu is subject to change. Some favorites include pizza, burgers, wraps and salads for both lunch and dinner, and quesadillas, nachos, and chips for dinner. Check out the Taco Tuesday Pizza and the Hawaiian BBQ Burger. End your meal with the Pots de Crème chocolate pudding!

Urban Soul Grill
7502 Mentor Ave.
Mentor, OH 44060
Urban Soul Grill has everything that makes you feel good! Whether it’s greens, yams, vegan wings, vegan ribs, or vegan cobbler, comfort food is what they do. Bring your appetite and plenty of napkins!

Vegan GreenGo
3613 State St.
Santa Barbara, CA 93105
If you’re a vegan who likes fast casual Mexican food, but are seeking something outside the regular fare, try Vegan GreenGo! Burritos, tacos, nachos, and bowls are all available, just as you’d expect, but the options range far past the kinds of beans that you can get. House-made veggie meats include carne asada, chicken, chorizo, al pastor, and barbacoa! Drinks options include lavender lemonade and a variety of kombuchas.

By Marcia Schveibinz

A reader had a question about Loma Linda products being vegan. I was able to find out the following information.

When I looked at the products on the website, many of the items that were labelled vegetarian did have either egg in them or non-fat dried milk. The items in question that didn’t have these ingredients but were still labelled vegetarian are in fact vegan and were not updated to be labeled vegan. I found this out by speaking with Declan at Atlantic Natural Foods. I also brought to their attention a product that was labeled vegan but contained egg whites. Declan said they will be changing the information on their website soon. The company stated that the “Choplets, Vegetarian Burger, and Chili are vegan. These recipes/products were around way before vegan became mainstream, so they were labeled as vegetarian. We are changing the labels in the near future to reflect that they are indeed 100% vegan.”

For information on Loma Linda products, see https://www.atlanticnaturalfoods.com/brand/loma-linda/

The contents of this posting, our website and our other publications, including 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 statements. It is impossible to be 100% sure about a statement, info can change, people have different views, and mistakes can be made. Please use your best judgment about whether a product is suitable for you. To be sure, do further research or confirmation on your own.

The next time you’re in the greater Dallas, Texas area you may want to stop in at Salubrious Juice & More. This vegan restaurant offers 100% organic juices, smoothies, smoothie bowls, and coffee served alongside paninis and avocado toast in a modern environment.

Locations include:
10990 Rolater Rd Suite 50, Frisco, TX 75035
4306 N Central Expy, Dallas, TX 75206
10233 E NW Hwy #432, Dallas, TX 75238

Check out their website here: www.salubriousjuiceandmore.com

Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year) starts on the eve of September 9th, 2018. It’s a tradition to eat sweet foods during this holiday. Your family and friends will enjoy the following vegan recipes from The Lowfat Jewish Vegetarian Cookbook. This vegan cookbook features international recipes that you can serve year-round and can be purchased from The Vegetarian Resource Group online: VRG Book Catalog or by sending $21 (including postage/handling) to Vegetarian Resource Group, PO Box 1463, Baltimore, MD 21203.

Polish Plum and Rhubarb Soup
(Serves 6)

1 pound plums, pitted and chopped
1 pound rhubarb, chopped
10 cups water
¼ cup plus 1 Tablespoon apple juice concentrate
¼ teaspoon clove powder
1½ teaspoons cinnamon

Place all the ingredients in a large pot and bring to a boil. Lower heat, cover pot, and simmer for 20 minutes. Serve hot.

Turkish Mandarin Salad
(Serves 5)

Two 10½ ounce cans Mandarin oranges, drained
½ Spanish onion, peeled and finely chopped
¼ cup pitted black olives, chopped
¼ cup pitted green olives, chopped
½ teaspoon coriander
½ teaspoon paprika
Salt and pepper to taste

Toss all the ingredients together in a large bowl. Chill and serve over a bed of lettuce.

Romanian Sweet Pasta
(Serves 8)

1 pound eggless pasta
12 cups water
1 cup maple syrup
½ cup walnuts, ground or 1/3 cup poppy seeds, ground
½ teaspoon lemon rind, minced
1½ cup raisins
½ teaspoon clove powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Cook pasta in boiling water until done. Drain.

Heat maple syrup and walnuts or poppy seeds in a large pot over medium heat for 2 minutes. Add lemon rind, raisins, clove powder, and cinnamon. Stir and continue cooking for 3 more minutes. Add cooked pasta. Mix well and serve warm.
Note: You can also pour the mixture into a baking dish and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes before serving.