Vegan Sugar: Friend Or Foe In Plant-Based Diets?

Sugar is a sweetener that comes from sugar cane and sugar beets. It is a common ingredient in many foods and drinks. However, not all sugar is created equal when it comes to veganism. While sugar itself comes from plants, the process of refining cane sugar often involves passing it through a charcoal filter made from bone char to remove impurities and whiten it. Bone char is derived from the bones of animals, usually cows and pigs, and is considered an animal product. This means that some refined white sugars, including confectioner's sugar and powdered sugar, are not suitable for vegans. However, there are vegan alternatives to these non-vegan sugars. Sugar made from sugar beets, for example, does not require bone char in its production and is always vegan. Organic sugars and those labelled unrefined, natural, and raw are also unlikely to have used bone char. Additionally, there are alternative sweeteners such as vegan honey, agave nectar, and brown rice syrup that can be used instead. Ultimately, the decision to consume non-vegan sugar is a personal choice for those following a plant-based diet.

Beet sugar is vegan-friendly

If you're a vegan with a sweet tooth, you'll be glad to know that beet sugar is always vegan-friendly. This is because the process of making sugar from beets does not require the same level of processing as cane sugar.

Beet sugar becomes sugar in a single process at a single facility. The beets are sliced and diffused to extract the raw juice, then purified into a syrup called beet molasses. As the molasses boils, the sucrose crystallizes. The liquid is then placed in a centrifuge where the sugar is separated from the liquid.

Sugar beets don't go through a refining process, so 100% beet sugar brands are always vegan.

How to Know if Your Sugar is Vegan

If your sugar is certified organic or labelled as beet sugar or vegan, you can be sure that it hasn't been refined using animal products. In the US, certified organic sugar does not use bone char. Sugar made from beets is also likely to be plant-based, as this uses a less extensive processing method. Any sugars labelled as "unrefined", "natural", and "raw" are also unlikely to have used bone char.

Vegan Sugar Brands

• In The Raw
• Florida Crystals
• Now Foods
• Wholesome!
• Bob's Red Mill
• Big Tree Farms
• Woodstock Farms

Other Vegan Sweeteners

If you're looking for alternatives to refined sugar, there are plenty of vegan options to choose from. These include:

• Date sugar
• Maple syrup
• Dates
• Coconut sugar
• Stevia
• Monk fruit
• Brown rice syrup
• Agave nectar

Bone char is used in the production of refined sugar

Bone Char and Refined Sugar

Bone char is a porous, black, granular material produced by charring animal bones. It is made by heating bones in a sealed vessel at temperatures of up to 700 °C (1,292 °F). The oxygen concentration must be kept low during the process as it affects the quality of the product, particularly its absorption capacity. Bone char is composed mainly of tricalcium phosphate (or hydroxyapatite), calcium carbonate, and carbon.

Bone char is made from the bones of cattle and pigs. The bones are sourced from animals that have been slaughtered in other countries, such as Afghanistan, Argentina, India, and Pakistan. The charred bones are then sold to traders, who sell them to sugar companies in the US.

While modern alternatives to bone char exist, such as activated carbon and ion-exchange resins, some companies remain partially or completely dependent on bone char for sugar refinement.

Vegan Sugar Options

For those who want to avoid bone char, there are some options available. Certified organic sugar, sugar made from beets, and sugars labeled as "unrefined," "natural," and "raw" are unlikely to have used bone char. Additionally, there are brands that sell plant-based sugars, such as Florida Crystals, In The Raw, and Big Tree Farms.

Organic sugar is not made using bone char

Bone char is a decolonizing filter agent often used in the sugar industry. It is used in a wide variety of sugars, as well as those used as ingredients in some candy, drinks, and other products. It is made from the bones of farmed cows and is used to help sugar achieve a white colour.

Bone char is not used in the production of organic sugar because it is not on the National Organic Program's National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances. Organic sugar is only minimally processed or not refined at all.

Vegan alternatives to refined sugar include date sugar and coconut sugar

Refined white sugar is often not considered vegan because it is bleached and purified using bone char, an animal product. Bone char is made from the bones of livestock, such as cows, and is used to remove impurities, resulting in white refined sugar. However, vegans who choose to consume refined white sugar can rest assured that they are still making a positive impact, as PETA states:

> "You’re saving more than 100 animals per year by following a vegan lifestyle, and the effect will snowball as people around you, inspired by your choices, may start trying vegan meals once you’ve shown them how easy it can be."

For those who want to avoid bone char, there are vegan alternatives to refined sugar, including date sugar and coconut sugar.

Date sugar is made from dehydrated and ground dates, retaining the natural sweetness and nutrients of the fruit. It is a wholesome, natural sweetener with a low glycemic index, making it a suitable option for individuals with diabetes or those aiming to manage their blood sugar levels. When using date sugar in recipes, it is important to reduce the amount of dry ingredients by 25% as the fibre in date sugar absorbs moisture.

Coconut sugar, also known as coconut palm sugar or coconut crystals, is derived from the sap of the coconut palm tree. It is a plant-based sweetener that is much less processed than regular cane sugar. Coconut sugar has a subtle sweetness with hints of caramel and is richer in minerals than other cane-based sweeteners. It can be used as a 1:1 substitute for regular sugar in most recipes, making it a versatile and tasty alternative.

In addition to date and coconut sugar, there are other vegan alternatives to refined sugar, such as maple syrup, vegan honey, agave nectar, and brown rice syrup.

Bone char is made from the bones of cows and pigs

Bone char is a decolonizing agent used in the sugar industry to help refine sugar and give it a white colour. It is made from the bones of cows and pigs, which are heated in a sealed vessel at up to 700 °C. The oxygen concentration must be kept low during this process, as it affects the quality of the product, particularly its adsorption capacity. Bone char is also used in the production of brown sugar, as this is created by adding molasses to refined white sugar.

The use of bone char in sugar production is common in the US, Mexico, Canada, and certain European countries. However, it is not used in the UK, where almost all sugar is vegan-friendly. While some people may not consider sugar processed with bone char to be vegan, others argue that it is not practical to avoid it completely due to the definition of veganism offered by The Vegan Society, which states that people should avoid harming animals "as much as possible and practicable.". PETA, for example, advises not to "stress too hard about sugar if you’re unsure about how it was produced".

For those who wish to avoid bone char, there are some steps that can be taken. Certified organic sugar, sugar made from beets, and sugars labelled as "unrefined," "natural," and "raw" are less likely to have been processed with bone char. Additionally, there are brands that sell plant-based sugars, such as Florida Crystals, In The Raw, Bob's Red Mill, Big Tree Farms, and Now Foods.

Frequently asked questions