As Chair of the International Vegetarian Union (IVU), I am delighted to extend an invitation to you for our upcoming 48th IVU World Vegan Festival taking place this year in India.

India, a country with a rich tapestry of vegetarian heritage, will be the stage for our festival across three vibrant cities: Mumbai, Chennai, and Ahmedabad. This marks another exciting chapter in our history with India, as it was the first country to host an IVU event outside of Europe back in 1957. The event was widely attended by authorities, religious figures, and the public, and we have since been honored to return several times.

The festival dates and respective contacts for each city are as follows:

Mumbai: October 28-29, 2023 – contact: [email protected]

Chennai: November 1-2, 2023 – contact: contact: [email protected]

Ahmedabad: November 4-5, 2023 – contact: [email protected]

Alongside the main festival, we have arranged an array of side attractions and even a tour to the vegetarian city of Palitana following the event in Ahmedabad, Gujarat—the most vegetarian state in India, where over 60% of the population follows a vegetarian diet.

More information on the festival can be found at our website: https://ivu.org/world-vegfest/48th-ivu-world-vegan-festival.html

Join us as we celebrate the diversity and vitality of vegetarianism in the heart of one of the world’s most vegetarian-friendly countries. We can’t wait to see you in India!

Warm regards,

Marly Winckler
Chair, International Vegetarian Union

By Jeanne Yacoubou, MS

The Vegetarian Resource Group noticed on a Kosher blog from October 2022 the following claim about Ritz Crackers:

“The O/U confirms that all Ritz Crackers (O/UD) contain real dairy and should not be eaten after or with meat. This is true even though there may be no obvious dairy ingredients listed on the packaging.”

We checked the Orthodox Union website to confirm. A search on its Products page for Ritz Crackers, turned up 27 results. All of the Nabisco Ritz Cracker varieties, including the original cracker, indicated the presence of dairy. They are certified as OU-D.

Some of the Ritz Crackers, such as the varieties with cheese or butter in their names, are clearly not vegan. But we wondered about the first entry, titled simply Ritz Crackers, also listed as containing dairy.

According to the Ritz Crackers website, the Original Ritz Crackers ingredients are listed as:

Unbleached enriched flour (wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate {vitamin B1}, riboflavin {vitamin B2}, folic acid), canola oil, palm oil, sugar, salt, leavening (calcium phosphate, baking soda), high fructose corn syrup, soy lecithin, natural flavor.

The only allergens listed on the package are wheat and soy.

Considering the ingredient sources, the only possible source of dairy seems to be the natural flavor. Although if dairy were present in the natural flavor, it seems it should be listed as an allergen along with wheat and soy. See the 2004 Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA). In an example given here https://www.fda.gov/media/163454/download the FDA lists “natural flavor (peanut)” on a package. Though this appears just to apply to proteins and cow’s milk, not other animal milks.

To clear up our confusion, The VRG reached out to Nabisco, the makers of Ritz Crackers, through their website contact form. Our first question read:

“We see online: ‘The O/U confirms that all Ritz Crackers (O/UD) contain real dairy and should not be eaten after or with meat. This is true even though there may be no obvious dairy ingredients listed on the packaging.’ What is the dairy ingredient? Thank you.”

The next day, The VRG received the following response from a customer service representative at Mondelez International, the company which owns Nabisco:

“…The best source of information is the product packaging. Our ingredients are subject to change based on supplier availability and we are unable to keep an exact ingredient list on file for all of our products. If milk or dairy are included in our products, in any amount, it will be listed in the ingredient statement. We ask that our consumers take the time to check the ingredient statement prior to purchasing a product.

Terms in an ingredient statement that would indicate the presence of cow’s milk protein can include but are not limited to:

butter fat
butter flavor
butter solids
buttermilk
butterscotch
calcium lactate
casein
caseinate
cheese (all varieties)
cream
cream cheese
curds
dairy flavor
delactosed whey
demineralized whey
dry milk solids
enzyme modified cheese
half & half
lactalbumin
lactose
malted milk
milk chocolate
milk derivative
milk protein concentrate
milk solids
modified butter flavor
natural cheese flavor
nonfat dry milk
reduced lactose
rennet
skim milk
sodium calcium caseinate
sodium caseinate
sour cream
sour cream solids
sour milk solids
whey
whey protein
yogurt

Since this was not a direct response to our question about the Ritz Original Crackers, we tried again through the website contact form. This time, we simply asked:

“Are the sources of the natural flavor in the Ritz Original Crackers from animals or dairy?”

We didn’t hear back, so called. But the consumer person was unable to tell us the source of the natural flavors.

We noticed that some store brand crackers similar to Ritz had natural flavors and were O/U Pareve, meaning the product did not have dairy, and the natural flavors would not be from dairy.

We emailed the certifying agency Orthodox Union (O/U). They told us

“As a kashrus agency, it is our responsibility to verify every single flavor and every component within a flavor. The primary method that this is done is very simple – the company must get every ingredient from a verified source. If their choice is a blend that includes any dairy, the resulting formula will be dairy. If they choose a blend that does not contain dairy, it will be Pareve. If they choose to create their own flavor, they will submit a full list of every single component of the flavor – this can be dozens of ingredients, which is then reviewed by our ingredient research department. The company will then be given a choice of approved sources for these ingredients. Our Rabbinic Field Representatives are tasked with verifying that these ingredients are only coming from approved sources, by doing unannounced inspections. We are very aware of every single ingredient and non-ingredient that is used in every production. Different companies get different designations based on what ingredients they choose to use. The other brands do not use the same ingredients as Ritz, therefore they have a different designation.

If a product lists dairy ingredients on the ingredient panel, it is obviously dairy. Some common dairy ingredients are Milk, Yogurt, Cheese, Cream, Butter, Whey, Lactose, Casein, and Caseinate. However, a product may contain a dairy ingredient that is not listed on the ingredient panel such as those present in the product’s unspecified ingredient ‘flavors’. Due to these concerns it is not entirely possible to determine the dairy status of a product based solely on the listed ingredients.

Please see the below links of articles for more information as to the reason one may not rely on labeling alone:

https://farrp.unl.edu/resources/gi-fas/opinion-and-summaries/dairy-free-and-non-dairy
https://oukosher.org/halacha-yomis/sodium-caseinate-is-often-an-ingredient-in-non-dairy-coffee-creamers-i-know-that-sodium-caseinate-is-a-milk-derivative-how-can-a-product-be-labeled-non-dairy-if-it-contains-sodium

At times, consumers inquire about the source of a dairy ingredient. Unfortunately, the OU is unable to divulge this information, as a manufacturers source of supply is proprietary information. We are bound, both legally and morally, to maintain this confidentiality. We can assure consumers that the supervision and classification of the products is according to the OU standards.”

Though Ritz has not told us that the natural flavors or other ingredients are dairy, and the OU is unable to tell us the source of the dairy ingredient, for those who are concerned, you may want to depend on the OU/D designation. We have seen this on the Ritz package. Here is information about OU/D: https://oukosher.org/blog/industrial-kosher/all-ou-symbols-explained/. Note there is also an OU/DE

symbol for items made on dairy equipment. Here is a definition of pareve, which can also be helpful, but be aware it doesn’t mean the product is necessarily vegan, since it can contain egg or fish: https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/3694185/jewish/What-Is-Parve-Pareve.htm

Also, interestingly, on the Canadian website https://www.snackworks.ca/en/product/00066721002204

natural flavors is not listed as an ingredient in Ritz Crackers as of July 13, 2023. However, on an Amazon website, natural flavors were listed in a Ritz cracker imported from Canada. See: https://www.amazon.com/Ritz-Original-Gram-Pack-Canada/dp/B017TXGM8Y

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.

The Cheesecake Factory Vegan Cobb Salad

The Cheesecake Factory mentions “vegan” for these two menu items:
Vegan Cobb Salad: Crisp Lettuce, Grilled Asparagus, Avocado, Roasted Beets, Green Beans, Tomato, Cucumber, Carrot, Quinoa, Farro, Almonds and Toasted Pepitas with House Vinaigrette

Impossible® Burger: A Delicious Plant-Based Burger with Vegan Melted Cheese, Lettuce, Tomato, Pickles, Onion and Our Special Sauce on a Toasted Brioche Bun
(They don’t mention what is in the bun and Special Sauce.)

Note that they also say: Our menu items are handcrafted in our kitchens, often using shared equipment (including common fryers).

See https://www.thecheesecakefactory.com/menu
and
https://thecheesecakefactoryme.com/uploads/pdfs/TCF_KWT_Allergen%20Data.pdf

For information on veggie restaurants in the USA and Canada, see https://www.vrg.org/restaurant/index.php

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.

Debra Daniels-Zeller’s article “Peach Passion” from The Vegetarian Resource Group features a wide range of vegan peach-based recipes. Enjoy Cinnamon-Peach Oatmeal with Toasted Walnuts; Creamy Peach Salad Dressing; Lime-Cilantro Peach Salsa; Coconut-Peach Soup; Tempeh Teriyaki with Peaches; Grilled Balsamic Peaches; Cardamom-Peach Upside-Down Cake; Peach Cashew Cream; and Lemon-Peach Jasmine Rice Pudding.

Read the entire article here: https://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2006issue2/2006_issue2_peach_passion.php

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

photo from Mother Earth Vegan Hotel

Here’s a sampling of vegan hotels:

Fivelements Retreat: Located in Bali, offers vegan meals, a wellness program and spa, plus more. See: https://fivelementsbali.com/

Koukoui Hotel: Situated in Greece, this hotel offers vegan cuisine, a spa, and fitness center.

See: https://www.koukoumihotel.com/index.php/en/

photo from Koukoumi Vegan Hotel

La Vimea: Located in Italy, offers organic vegan meals, yoga sessions, and more. See: https://www.lavimea.com/

Mother Earth Vegan Hotel: Located in Costa Rica, this hotel offers a poolside vegan restaurant (room rates include breakfast for two), yoga studio, and more. Please note that children under 12 are not allowed and pets are not allowed. See: https://www.meveganhotel.com/

Palmaïa, The House of AïA: This Mexican establishment offers vegan cuisine, spa and wellness program, activities for kids, and more. See: https://thehouseofaia.com/

Stanford Inn & Resort: Located in the United States in Mendocino, California, offers a variety of room accommodations including family suites. Ravens Restaurant on their property serves organic vegan meals. They offer spa services and are pet-friendly. See: https://stanfordinn.com/

Vegan Agrivilla I Pini: Located in Tuscany, Italy, near vineyards, olive groves, and gardens. They offer vegan cuisine, saltwater pool, and more. See: https://www.ipinitoscana.com/

Villa Vegana: Situated in Spain in a designated conservation area, you can enjoy vegan meals, yoga classes, plus more. See: https://www.villavegana.com/

By Reed Mangels, PhD, RD

Currently, the National School Lunch Act does not require schools participating in the federal National School Lunch Program to provide a non-dairy substitute for dairy milk unless the child has a disability (documented by a licensed physician) that restricts the student’s diet. Schools can choose to provide a non-dairy substitute if the student’s parent or legal guardian or a medical authority provides a written statement that identifies the medical or other special dietary need for a non-dairy substitute. Unless the student has a specific disability, documented by a licensed physician, that requires avoidance of cow’s milk, the school is not required to provide a replacement beverage.

Representative Rep. Troy Carter (D-LA) has introduced H.R. 1539 (see: https://www.congress.gov/118/bills/hr1539/BILLS-118hr1539ih.pdf) which would amend the National School Lunch Act to require schools to provide fluid milk substitutes upon the request of a student or the parent or guardian. The fluid milk substitute would need to meet nutritional standards so that its composition was similar to dairy milk. The bill was referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce in March 2023.

To read more about school meals see:

School Lunch and Milk Substitutes

The Vegetarian Resource Group Testimony Submitted to USDA on Proposed Revisions to Child Nutrition Programs (including school lunch)

Getting Vegan Food into Schools

Vegan Options in a California School

Vegan Options in Portland, ME School Lunch

Tempeh in School Meals

By Jazz Miles, VRG Intern

As I walked into NuVegan Cafe in Richmond, Virginia, I was quickly met by the array of images of the many esteemed individuals who had visited the restaurant. It was great to see photos of rappers Drake, Common, and actor Anthony Anderson.

With those individuals in mind, I had very high expectations. I was not disappointed. On the inside, there were several signs hanging on the walls. One sign contained a mission statement, “We’re committed to providing exceptional and nutritious meal options to everyone including vegans and non-vegans.” Another sign contained positive words such as: soulful, consciousness, quality, growth, and creativity. There were also plants adorning each window in the restaurant.

I was met with a very diverse menu with a huge quantity of vegan options to choose from. They have fried foods, raw dishes, greens, sandwiches, a juice bar, and even baked goods on their menu!

An array of entrées and sides were presented in a cafeteria-style buffet and served by NuVegan’s staff. Television screens behind the buffet display the many selections NuVegan has to offer.

I ordered the vegan mac and cheese, the ginger spiced tofu, and the vegan chick’n drummies. My favorite of the three was the vegan chick’n drummies. They are crispy, flakey, and perfectly seasoned. I coupled it with their signature barbecue sauce, and it was absolutely delicious. The mac and cheese was creamy. The flavor was not overpowering, but subtle. It was a good compliment to the ginger spiced tofu, which was sweet and had a little bit of a kick to it.

Overall, my experience was overwhelmingly positive. I would recommend NuVegan to anyone in the Richmond area. They also have locations in D.C. and Maryland.

More information on NuVegan can be found here: https://www.ilovenuvegan.com/

For info on other veg restaurants in the USA and Canada, go to https://www.vrg.org/restaurant/index.php

Share this handy poster with family and friends. You can also print it out and post it on your refrigerator. See: https://www.vrg.org/nutshell/VeganDietsinaNutshellPoster.pdf

Tempeh photo from Adobe Stock

Chef Nancy Berkoff serves up several vegan tempeh recipes in a previous Journal article published by The Vegetarian Resource Group. Try preparing Breakfast Tempeh, Tempeh Sausage, Tempeh Noodle Soup, Grilled Tempeh Salad with Peas and Pineapple, Tempeh in a Roll, and Tempeh on Toast.

The complete article with recipes can be read here:
http://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2016issue1/2016_issue1_cooking_tempeh.php

To subscribe to Vegan Journal visit:
http://www.vrg.org/member/2013sv.php

VRG volunteer Laura McGuiness traveled to London, England and enjoyed many vegan dining experiences.

She enjoyed Madhatters Tea (vegan) at Sanderson Hotel London and dined on Humble Crumble at Spitalfields Market, which consisted of a Rhubarb and Strawberry fruit topping, vegan shortbread crumble, and topped with hot vanilla vegan custard and rose petals. Finally, at Honest Burgers she sampled their Plant burger with vegan bacon added.