15% off £20 or 20% off £30
Vegan chocolate is a type of chocolate that is made without any animal-derived ingredients, including milk...
Milk and other milk derivatives – casein, whey protein isolate, shellac AKA confectioner’s glaze & lecithin from animal sources
Chocolate is made using cacao beans which are found on cacao trees (Theobroma cacao), meaning chocolate in its ‘raw form’ is vegan friendly...
Vegan chocolate is a type of chocolate that is made without any animal-derived ingredients, including milk.1
Traditional chocolate typically contains milk solids or milk fat, which makes it unsuitable for those following a vegan diet, as vegans avoid all animal products.2
Any chocolates made from animal products aren’t classed as vegan, and the use of milk is one of the main signs chocolate isn’t suitable for vegans to tuck into.
Chocolate is made using cacao beans which are found on cacao trees (Theobroma cacao), meaning chocolate in its ‘raw form’ is vegan friendly as it’s a plant-based food.4
To make chocolate products such as bars, truffles, cakes etc. animal and dairy ingredients are often added such as milk products, butter and eggs.5
To create vegan chocolate, manufacturers replace dairy ingredients with plant-based alternatives. Common substitutes for milk solids or milk fat include:6
Most types of milk and white chocolate are made with all or some of the ingredients above, making it strictly off-limits for vegan chocolate lovers.8
Only chocolate that’s been made using zero dairy products and hasn’t become contaminated by manufacturers using the same machinery to make vegan and non-vegan chocolate can be classed as vegan.
It is possible to get vegan ‘milk’ chocolate, provided the chocolate hasn’t been made with dairy milk, but a plant-based milk alternative, such as coconut, instead.
Lecithin can also be animal or plant-based; the soy and sunflower versions of it are vegan-friendly.9
Some dark chocolates may also contain animal-derived additives like honey, gelatine, and certain food colourings or flavourings.
If you’re vegan, it’s best to presume that most dark chocolate isn’t vegan at first glance (sorry, but it’s really best to err on the side of caution when it comes to chocolate).
Just like dark chocolate, most white chocolate is not suitable for vegans due to the reasons mentioned earlier. Nevertheless, vegan versions of white chocolate do exist, and you can even make it yourself without requiring many ingredients.
Legally, for a product to be classified as white chocolate, it must contain 3.5% milk fat and 14% milk solids. So, any white chocolate that lacks milk cannot officially be labelled as such.11
The main ingredient in vegan “white chocolate” alternatives is cocoa butter, followed by powdered sugar, rice powder (not milk powder), salt and vanilla extract.12
Ingredients list
Method:
Ingredients list
Method:
Organic chocolate is more than just a label. It’s a sign organic chocolate has been subject to legal regulations that protect the planet’s soils and ecosystems — and you, too.13
Organic farmers create healthy, living soil and manage weeds and pests using natural methods, while organic processors only use natural colours and substances: ensuring your chocolate is of the highest quality and has been made in a way that supports wildlife, soils and the climate.13
Organic certification isn’t given lightly. All organic farms and food companies are thoroughly inspected at least once a year.14
What’s more, The Soil Association sets higher standards than the legal minimum for organic production, too.15
This means chocolate manufacturers that meet its standards must go even further on issues like additives, processing aids, packaging and maintaining organic integrity.
As a result - when you buy organic chocolate that’s Soil Association-certified, you know its makers have gone that extra mile to produce a tasty treat that can be trusted.
Fairtrade chocolate is designed to make a difference in the lives of cocoa farmers and their families around the world.16
Life is tough for cocoa farmers. The price of cocoa beans has slumped in recent years, despite high demand.
Disease and age are damaging cocoa trees and few young people are becoming cocoa farmers because of the poor prospects.
Fairtrade products, such as chocolate, help to make cocoa farming in places like the Ivory Coast and Ghana more sustainable by guaranteeing minimum prices and providing a Fairtrade Premium to invest in local communities, so farmers can provide a better future for themselves and their families.
Every time you buy a bar of Fairtrade chocolate, you are supporting farmers and their communities.
If you’re vegan, you don’t have to forego your beloved chocolate because there are so many incredibly satisfying vegan chocolate treats available today.
The best way to know if a product is vegan is by checking the label! Ideally, you want to stick with vegan-certified products to make sure the chocolate you buy is 100% vegan. Always keep an eye out for trace warnings in case there is a chance of cross-contamination.
Alternatively, if you’re feeling particularly crafty, you could always have a go at making your own! It’s pretty simple and only requires a few ingredients.
We don’t know about you but we’re feeling a bit peckish after that…
1. https://www.vegansociety.com/go-vegan/definition-veganism
2. https://nunuchocolates.com/whats-in-your-chocolate-the-importance-of-milk-solids/
3. https://www.veganfriendly.org.uk/is-it-vegan/chocolate/
4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8470865/
5. https://readcacao.com/how-is-chocolate-made/
6. https://damecacao.com/dairy-free-chocolate/
7. https://www.worldcocoafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/files_mf/tan2008.pdf
8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4696435/
9. https://nationallecithin.com/2021/07/sunflower-lecithin-vs-soy-lecithin-whats-the-difference/
10. https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/food-features/dark-chocolate/
11. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2003/1659/schedule/1/made
12. https://lovingitvegan.com/vegan-white-chocolate/
13. https://ofrf.org/resources/organic-faqs
14. https://www.soilassociation.org/certification/food-drink/what-is-organic-certification/
15. https://www.soilassociation.org/take-action/organic-living/what-is-organic/organic-chocolate/