By Jeanne Yacoubou, MS

In December 2024, The VRG received a blog comment from a reader about the CVS brand of ibuprofen. He said: “I have alpha-gal syndrome and celiac disease so I’m very careful about the products with which I come into contact. In a call and follow up emails with CVS customer service, I was advised that their ibuprofen 200mg tablets are manufactured by Perrigo and “contain beef tallow to produce the stearic acid.” I thought you might want to know.”

The VRG wanted to confirm what our reader had told us about the CVS brand of ibuprofen 200 mg tablets. We first called the general customer service line hoping to get an immediate confirmation. The representative looked it up in her system but could find no more than what was on the box label: stearic acid. She had no access to ingredient source information. So, she connected us with the CVS corporate office.

The corporate office didn’t have any more information and said they weren’t the ones to contact about an ingredient source, either. They transferred us to our local CVS pharmacy in Maryland.

The first local pharmacist gave us the phone number of what she referred to as the drug “manufacturer.” When we called the number, we discovered that the company, PL Development, was both a manufacturer and distributor of certain CVS brand products. She asked for the lot number or the NDC number of the drug. When we told her that we didn’t have either because we had not purchased it, she requested the NDC number from a photo of the product we had seen online.

When we gave it to her, she entered the number into her system. She then stated that her company does not supply CVS with that particular brand, so she had no information about its ingredients. She also suggested that CVS, as a large pharmacy chain, could use multiple manufacturers of the same product, depending on price, location, or availability.

She recommended that we ask a CVS pharmacy for a manufacturer of the product. With that information, we could contact the manufacturer directly to find out more about the ingredient. So, she transferred us back to our local CVS pharmacy.

This time, when we specified that we wanted to contact the manufacturer of the CVS brand ibuprofen, the pharmacist said he did not know how to do that. When we suggested using the NDC number, he repeated that he didn’t know how that would help.

So, we used the website contact form to try to get an answer. After submitting the question, we received an automatic reply that we’d get an answer in 1-2 days.

We not only received a response the following day. We also received a voicemail from CVS informing us that their email response had been sent earlier that day, and asking if it had answered our questions or if we had any other questions.

Here’s the email: “CVS Health Ibuprofen Pain Reliever & Fever Reducer (NSAID) 200 MG Coated Tablets is not considered vegan…It contains stearic acid, which is derived from beef tallow.”

Since The VRG had previously learned from PL Development (see above) that more than one manufacturer could supply this product to the pharmacy chain, the CVS email does not provide enough information about the vegan status of all CVS brand ibuprofen tablets. There is certainly at least one manufacturer that uses beef tallow-derived stearic acid, but we cannot assume that all do. You may wish to err on the side of caution, however, and not buy any of them.

If you’d really like to know about the CVS brand ibuprofen on the shelf in your local CVS pharmacy, we recommend you send the complete product name and its lot and NDC numbers (on the box) to CVS through its website contact form. Wait for an answer before purchase. If you get a response different from the ones we or our reader received, please let us know at [email protected].

The contents of this posting, our website and our other publications, including Vegan 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.

Julia Comino interviews Whitney McVerry about her Vegetarian Resource Group internship experience. See the video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LG8mXxaVnKM

For more information about Vegetarian Resource Group/Vegan Journal internships, see
https://www.vrg.org/student/index.php

To support The Vegetarian Resource Group internships, donate at www.vrg.org/donate

Enjoy these recipes in Chef Nancy Berkoff’s article “Easy as Apple Pie”:

• See: Maple Apple Pie
• Apple Cream Pie
• Apple Pie, Hold the Sugar
• Pie-Eyed Apple Pie (Apple Pie with Whiskey)
• Ginger Snap Crust
• Fruit Pie Fillings
• Pie Shell
• Easy Blueberry Pie
• Delicious Cherry Pie

Read the article here including tips for making pie crust and accessorizing your apple pie: Easy as Apple Pie

To subscribe to Vegan Journal in the USA, see: https://www.vrg.org/member/2013sv.php

Be sure to follow The Vegetarian Resource Group on Instagram: @vegetarianresourcegroup

photo by Hannah Kaminsky

Hannah Kaminsky shares several delicious black bean-based vegan recipes in a previous issue of Vegan Journal. Enjoy Colombian Black Bean Soup, Mole Enchiladas, Black Bean Chipotle Chile, Loaded Spanish Sweet Potatoes, and Tex-Mex Pasta Salad.

Read the entire article here: https://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2023issue3/2023_issue3_modern_classics.php

To subscribe to Vegan Journal in the USA, see: https://www.vrg.org/member/2013sv.php

Lentil Soup photo from Freepik

A VRG member recently had dental surgery and needed a soft vegan diet for several days. He started with chocolate pudding from Simply Vegan https://www.vrg.org/blog/2020/04/03/prepare-vegan-puddings-at-home/, applesauce, and a blended pea soup. A little further along mulligatawny soup, mashed potatoes, and mashed chana masala worked nicely. For more ideas on a vegan soft diet, see Nancy Berkoff’s Texture Alternations for Vegan Diets (https://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2009issue2/texture.htm) and here are some tips from Reed Mangels  https://www.vrg.org/teen/braces.php

Sweet Rolls photo by Rissa Miller

Former VRG Senior Editor Rissa Miller wrote an article titled, “On a Roll” where she provides recipes for making the dough (including a gluten-free option) or if you’re in a rush how to use vegan canned crescent-style dough. You’ll also find three sweet roll fillings and three savory roll fillings. Start baking today!

Read the complete article here: https://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2020issue1/2020_issue1_on_roll.php

Subscribe to Vegetarian Journal in the USA only by visiting https://www.vrg.org/member/2013sv.php

Root veggies are good cold weather vegetables to prepare meals. Debra Daniels-Zeller offers a variety of recipes featuring root vegetables in her previous article titled Vegan Roots. Enjoy these recipes: Rosemary Roasted Roots; Orange-Marinated Beets; Carrot-Rutabaga Coleslaw; Tomatoes and Lentils with Carrots, Turnips, and Kale; Mashed Celeriac-Potatos with Roasted Garlic; Jerusalem Artichokes with Caramelized Onions; Curried Parsnip Soup; and Sweet Potato Dip. Find the article here:

https://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2008issue4/2008_issue4_vegan_roots.php

To subscribe to Vegan Journal in the USA, see: https://www.vrg.org/member/2013sv.php

by Reed Mangels, PhD, RD

We recently reported on plant milks not fortified with vitamin B12.

Based on website information and product labels collected in Fall 2024, the following original and unsweetened milks are fortified with vitamin B12:

5.8-5.9 micrograms vitamin B12 in a 1-cup serving:

• Milkadamia Macadamia Milk Original, Unsweetened, or Creamy

3 micrograms vitamin B12 in a 1-cup serving:

• Silk Unsweet Oatmilk (shelf-stable); Original Soymilk (refrigerated or shelf-stable); Organic Unsweet Soymilk (shelf-stable)
• So Delicious Organic Unsweetened or Original Coconutmilk Beverage (refrigerated or shelf-stable)

2.9 micrograms vitamin B12 in a 1-cup serving:

• Edensoy Original Extra, Organic Soymilk

2.5 micrograms vitamin B12 in a 1-cup serving:

• Plantstrong Unsweetened Oat Whole Plant-Based Milk; Unsweetened Almond Milk; Oat & Walnut Milk; Oat & Almond Milk
• Silk Organic Unsweet Soymilk (refrigerated)

2.4 micrograms vitamin B12 in a 1-cup serving:

• Silk Original, Extra Protein, or Extra Creamy Oatmilk (refrigerated)

2.2 micrograms vitamin B12 in a 1-cup serving

• Silk Original Oatmilk (shelf-stable)

2 micrograms vitamin B12 in a 1-cup serving:

• Lidl Foods Organic Soymilk Original

1.5 micrograms vitamin B12 in a 1-cup serving:

• Pacific Foods Original Ultra Soy Milk

1.4 micrograms vitamin B12 in a 1-cup serving:

• Niuke Peanut Plant Milk

1.3 micrograms vitamin B12 in a 1-cup serving:

• Good Karma Unsweetened Flaxmilk or Unsweetened Flaxmilk + Protein

1.2 micrograms vitamin B12 in a 1-cup serving:

• Bettergoods Plant-Based Original Soymilk
• Friendly Farms Original Oat Milk
• Good Karma Kids Original Oatmilk+
• Kirkland Signature Organic Soy Non-Dairy Beverage, Original; Almond Non-dairy Beverage, Original, Unsweetened
• Oatly Original, Unsweetened, Low-fat, or Full-Fat Oatmilk (refrigerated)
• Simple Truth Original or Unsweetened Oat Milk (refrigerated); Dairy Free Original or Original Unsweetened Almond Milk (refrigerated)
• 365 by Whole Foods Original Oatmilk; Organic Unsweetened Original or Unsweetened Soy Non-dairy Beverage (refrigerated); Organic Original Unsweetened Soymilk (shelf-stable); Organic Unsweetened Coconut Milk
• Wegmans Original, Extra Creamy or Zero Sugar Oatmilk; Organic Original Soymilk
• Wild Harvest Organic Original Soy Milk

1.1 micrograms vitamin B12 a 1-cup serving:

• Califia Farms Kids’ Complete Plant-based Milk (pea protein)
• Dream Ricemilk Original with Calcium & Vitamin D , Unsweetened Original with Calcium & Vitamin D , 2%, and “Whole”; Soymilk Original with Calcium & Vitamin D; Coconutmilk Unsweetened Original with Calcium & Vitamin D; Almondmilk Unsweetened Original with Calcium & Vitamin D
• Kikkoman Pearl Organic Soymilk, Smart Original, 8 oz carton
• Ripple Original or Unsweetened Original Pea-based Milk (refrigerated or shelf-stable)
• Silk Kids Oatmilk Blend
• Trader Joe’s Non-Dairy Rice Beverage, Organic Original; Organic Non-Dairy Coconut Beverage Unsweetened

1 microgram vitamin B12 a 1-cup serving:

• Bettergoods Plant-Based Original and Extra Creamy Oatmilk
• Manitoba Milling Co. Original Unsweetened Flax

0.9 micrograms vitamin B12 in a 1-cup serving:

• Oatsome Original Organic Oat Drink
• Silk Original or Unsweet Coconutmilk
• Trader Joe’s Non-Dairy Oat Beverage with Vitamins A, D, & B12

0.6 micrograms vitamin B12 in a 1-cup serving:

• Kirkland Signature Organic Non-Dairy Oat Beverage
• Living Harvest Tempt Hemp Original or Unsweetened Original Hemp Milk
• Sproud Plant-based Original or Unsweetened (pea-based milk)
• 365 by Whole Foods Organic Unsweetened Almond Milk
• Trader Joe’s Organic Unsweetened Almond Beverage (shelf-stable)

0.4 micrograms vitamin B12 in a 1-cup serving:

• Oatly Original Oatmilk (shelf-stable)

0.2 micrograms vitamin B12 in a 1-cup serving:

• Planet Oat Original, Unsweetened Original, Extra Creamy Original, Unsweetened Extra Creamy Original Oatmilk

This is not an exhaustive list so be sure to check the label of your favorite product to determine whether it supplies vitamin B12.

We gratefully acknowledge the work of VRG interns Aashay Mody, Ren Patel, and Neha Vivek and VRG volunteer Mae Y. Soon who collected information for this article.

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.

By Jeanne Yacoubou, MS

In September 2024, The VRG received an email from pharmacist Jasmine Uchi at VeganMed about our 2022 article on alpha-gal syndrome (AGS). In that article, we stated that beef-derived magnesium stearate and stearic acid used as inactive ingredients in pharmaceuticals could produce symptoms, some of them life-threatening, in people with AGS, but were not commonly found in them today. This conclusion was based on interviews with major manufacturers of magnesium stearate and stearic acid and with several drug manufacturers. We learned from them that plant-derived ingredients were more common but not guaranteed in all cases and made this clear in our article.

As a result, we emphasized in our article that concerned individuals – such as AGS sufferers, people with dairy allergies, and vegans – should investigate the ingredient sources used in each and every bottle of medication that they are prescribed before purchase. Some ingredient sources frequently change based on supply availability without prior notice. To prevent misunderstanding and potential legal liability, pharmaceutical makers will often state that either plant- or animal-derived ingredients may be used. Labels – including package inserts – may not specify the source. The only way to find out is to contact the manufacturer and hope the information you receive is accurate and up-to-date.

Uchi wrote about our article: “While the information presented is valuable, it is crucial to recognize that pharmaceutical manufacturers can change their formulations or suppliers at any time. This year, we have received confirmations from several manufacturers indicating that their magnesium stearate does contain animal-sourced components.” We asked for the names of manufacturers who use beef-derived inactive ingredients in their products. We were then told: “After careful consideration and discussion with our team, we have determined that providing the names of manufacturers who use animal-derived stearic acid is not advisable, as formulations can change over time. We recommend regularly verifying this information with the manufacturers or utilizing trusted sources…”

VeganMed Pharmacy List for “Alpha-Gal-Friendly” and “Vegan-Friendly” Medications

For this article update, The VRG wanted to provide additional information, so we turned to the VeganMed website. We found a list of ten pharmacies designated as “alpha-gal-friendly” and “vegan-friendly.”

We contacted each of them by phone in search of three of the medications we had researched in our previous article: lisinopril, vicodin, and clonidine at various dosages.

Three pharmacies did not respond. Of those that did respond, except for one pharmacy, they were all aware of VeganMed and their listing on that site as a source of “alpha-gal-friendly” medications. A few immediately said they’d contact VeganMed for “alpha-gal-friendly” makers of the three pharmaceuticals. Others stated they compound (i.e., formulate) their own medications as a way to guarantee that their products are vegan. To compound, they purchase the active ingredient and mix it on site with plant-derived inactive ingredients to make tablets.

As noted in the table below, all pharmacies except one are licensed to sell medications – including online sales – only in their state.

The VeganMed website has a brief description about how they certify medications as “alpha-gal-friendly” or “vegan-friendly.” It appears they require written documentation from manufacturers. It’s unknown whether VeganMed independently tests drug samples to determine if animal ingredients are present. It appears they certify dozens, if not hundreds, of companies spanning pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and dietary supplements.

Yet, even with certification, it’s unlikely there will be an absolute guarantee that the medication in the bottle you’re holding in your hand is vegan unless the manufacturer had previously declared that they never use animal ingredients. To the best of our knowledge, no drug manufacturer has ever made such a vegan declaration. People with AGS or dairy allergies need to be aware of this.

It’s best to use a VeganMed’s “alpha-gal-friendly” or “vegan-friendly” certification as a starting point, – but contact the manufacturer yourself as verification.

We asked several pharmacists interviewed for this article if they knew of – or had done business with – a confirmed vegan drug manufacturer. They all replied that they had not ever heard of a vegan drug manufacturer. Likewise, they knew of no manufacturer that usually or always uses animal-derived ingredients.

One pharmacist said that questions about inactive ingredients have “exploded” since AGS has become more well-known in recent years. He also said researching inactive ingredient sources is “new” for pharmacists and they must trust what manufacturers tell them just like consumers.

The VeganMed site contains a store where you can purchase many over-the-counter medications and personal care items that have been approved by VeganMed as “animal-free.” Once you click the Buy Now button, you are automatically directed to Amazon.com. By the URL that appears in the address bar, VeganMed is an Amazon affiliate, earning a commission on products sold.

Finding Vegan Medications

Inactive ingredients in many medications, both prescription and over-the-counter, may be animal-derived. Companies are not legally required to list sources on labels. So, what can you do if you are vegan or have AGS or dairy allergies? Here are a few suggestions.

1. When in doubt, contact the drug manufacturer and request ingredient source information in writing. Be specific about the dosage you’ve been prescribed. Provide the NDC number (usually on the front of a package under the brand name) and the lot number if possible.
2. Consult VeganMed website’s helpful list of animal-derived ingredients presented as an infographic in a blog post on their site. Although the list is AGS-related, and may not be exhaustive, those ingredients are used in all sorts of pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and dietary supplements. Use that list as a starting point in your own drug research.
3. Repeat this process for every prescription refill, even if filled at the same pharmacy. It cannot be overstated that ingredient suppliers may change without notice.

The contents of this posting, our website and our other publications, including Vegan 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.