Diets

Eating out vegan

FoodGong screens menus, recipes, and food photos for animal-derived ingredients — including hidden ones like fish sauce, gelatin, and animal stock — and flags each dish vegan-friendly, Ask, or Avoid.

Plenty of "vegetable" dishes are cooked with butter, stock, or fish sauce. FoodGong reads the whole menu or recipe and surfaces the animal products that are easy to miss.

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Safe for youAsk your serverAvoid

Hidden animal ingredients to watch

The non-obvious sources a busy server — or a short recipe — can miss. FoodGong flags them for you.

  • Chicken or beef stock in soups, rice, and "vegetable" dishes
  • Fish sauce and oyster sauce in Southeast Asian cooking
  • Butter, ghee, and cream used to cook or finish dishes
  • Gelatin in desserts, and honey as a sweetener
  • Lard in refried beans, tortillas, and pastry
  • Parmesan and some cheeses made with animal rennet; Worcestershire (anchovy)

How FoodGong screens for vegan

Set vegan in your profile, then scan a menu, recipe, or dish. FoodGong checks each item for animal-derived ingredients and sorts them vegan-friendly, Ask, or Avoid — flagging the hidden ones like stock and fish sauce that plant-based diners miss most.

Frequently asked questions

Does it catch non-obvious animal products?
That is its main value here — it flags stock, fish sauce, gelatin, honey, lard, and rennet cheese that make an otherwise plant-based dish not vegan.
Can it help me find the most vegan options across restaurants?
Yes. With Pro you can compare menus and see which restaurant has the most vegan-friendly dishes before you choose.
Recipes and photos too?
Yes. Paste or photograph a recipe or snap a dish, and FoodGong screens it ingredient by ingredient.

Related guides

Vegetarian →Dairy-free & lactose →Egg allergy →All dining guides →

Screen your next menu for vegan.

Start free — unlimited scans of menus, recipes, and food photos, no card required.

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FoodGong helps you screen menus, recipes, and food photos and ask better questions. It is not a medical device and does not replace professional medical advice or confirmation from restaurant staff. For severe allergies, always verify with your server and carry any medication your doctor prescribes.