Vegan Products in 2021 - Our Top Picks

Veganism has taken off in a big way. The Economist dubbed 2019 the “year of the vegan”. In a survey of Americans aged between 25 to 34, an impressive 25% have responded as identifying as vegans.

There are roughly 80 million vegans in the world today, with 20 million from the US alone. The market is getting bigger, and the demand for vegan foods and products is exponentially increasing.

Veganuary is a non-profit movement that encourages a vegan diet throughout January of each year. When it started in 2014, there were 3,000 participants. Earlier this year, 2021 saw over 500,000 signups. 

Vegan products do not use any part of an animal or contain any animal by-products. The demand for these animal-friendly products has been so much on the rise that manufacturers and retailers are jumping on the bandwagon in a scramble to meet the burgeoning market. 

We have evaluated several products based not just on cost, functionality, and aesthetics but also on the core values and ethics of the manufacturing company. 

So without further ado, let’s look at our favorite vegan products! 

 

1. Wines

The majority of wines aren’t vegan. Wineries employ a practice called “fining” to help clarify the wine. Fining agents include animal parts such as fish bladders or gelatin from boiled cows. Yikes. 

We like several brands of vegan wine that are widely available from most grocery and liquor stores.

1. Paul Buisse Chinon Cabernet Franc from the Loire Valley of France.

2. Toro Loco Organic Red Utiel-Requena from Spain.

3. Villa Sparina Gavi di Gavi from Italy.

4. Inama Soave Classico 2018.

5. Lumos Wines is located in Oregon and has a range of vegan wines.

6. Stella Rosa is a Californian wine company with an extensive range  

7. Charles Shaw Red Wines 

8. Bellissima produces Prosecco and has a range of sparkling wines. 

9. Cooper Hawk in Ontario, Canada, has an excellent range of wines.

10. Seghesio from Sonoma Country offers Italian reds.

To check if your favorite brand of wine is vegan, Barnivore has a comprehensive list of all vegan alcoholic products in a convenient database. 

 

2. Kite Hill’s Vegan Yogurt 

Kite Hill’s Greek and Almond yogurt are certified vegan and deliver a healthy dose of plant-based protein for your probiotic needs. 

In addition, they have a selection of other vegan alternatives to traditional dairy products like butter and cheese dips.  

 

3. Larabars 

A popular and healthy snack, Larabars have several gluten-free and vegan options. Larabar has been providing tasty bars for over 20 years and is headquartered in Minneapolis. The chocolate used is Fair Trade certified, while their bars don’t contain any GMO, gluten, or soy, and are certified vegan.  

 

4. Wild Earth Dog Food 

Vegan dogs? Did you know, dogs are omnivores, not carnivores. They can live on a staple diet of plant-based protein. 

Wild Earth has an extensive range of dog food that caters to pet parents who might want their pets to be vegan without sacrificing nutrition. 

 

5. The Veggie Grill chain of restaurants can be found in California, Oregon, Massachusetts, New York, and Washington. 

They have been in business since 2006 and have since grown to one of the largest vegan restaurant companies in the US. 

 

6. Dr Praeger’s Veggie Burger patties are yummy! Made up of 10 different vegetables like carrots, onions, string beans, and oat bran, these patties are one of our favorite veggie burger brands around. 

 

7. Pure Lovin' Chocolate from Victoria, BC has an excellent selection of vegan chocolate. Their products are organic and free of dairy, soy, and gluten.

 

8. Daiya has a line of vegan dressings like Creamy Italian, Creamy Caesar, and Blue Cheeze. Their products don’t contain any allergens that can cause allergic reactions like soy, nuts, and gluten. 

 

9. Earth Balance has been in business since 1998 with vegan spreads. The Original Buttery spread was created in Colorado as an alternative to vegans that miss the taste of butter. Since then, their product range has expanded to include nut butter, dressings, snacks, crackers, and baking sticks. 

 

10. Drunk Elephant’s Anti-Aging facial oil is made from the seed of the marula fruit. This oil contains no chemicals or fragrances and reduces fine lines and wrinkles while improving the skin’s elasticity. Great for sensitive skin, Drunk Elephant produces an excellent range of vegan skincare products certified 100% cruelty-free.

 

11. I Dew Care has a vitamin C serum that is certified vegan and cruelty-free. The serum brightens skin and is packed with vitamin E and B5. Containing antioxidant-rich grapefruit, the serum reduces visible signs of aging like wrinkles and lines.

 

12. If you are worried about getting enough protein sources while following a vegan diet, protein powder can be added to soups, salads, and smoothies. Vega Sport has certified vegan protein powders that are keto-friendly and used widely by athletes.

 

13. For junk food lovers, Pretzel Bites from Indie Bay Snacks are certified vegan and a healthier option than traditional pretzels. Only sustainable chocolate made by Colombian manufacturer Luker Chocolate is used for their products. 

 

14. Gummy bears are made with gelatin. Gelatin is an animal by-product from pigs and cows often used as thickening agents to give gummies their texture. Common brands of gummy bears like Haribo are more often than not containing gelatin in all their products. Our favorite brands of vegan gummies include: 

• Squish 
• Trader Joe’s Scandinavian Candy
• Goody Good Stuff Bears 
• Annie’s Organic Gummy Bunny
• Surf Sweets Organic Bears
• Sour Patch Kids
• Twizzlers 
• Skittles (though technically not a gummy!)
• Airheads
• Natural fruit gummies by Dare Candy Co.
• Seitenbacher Happy Fruits 
• Tasty Brand Fruit Gummies 
• Apple Cider Vinegar Probiotic Gummy by Garden of Life has the bonus of containing vitamin B12. 

 

15. Quorn is one of the biggest vegan meat alternative food companies. It was one of the first mainstream brands to get their vegan products onto supermarket shelves. Their product offerings include chicken nuggets, plant-based minced meat, burgers, sausages, and fish. All their protein sources come from mycoprotein, their own source. Mycoprotein is powered by a type of fungus and makes Quorn’s food closer in taste and texture to actual meat. 

 

16. For vegans that miss the taste of meat, Beyond Meat’s Hot Italian Sausages are delicious! Beyond Meat is a company headquartered in California with manufacturing facilities in Missouri. They offer an extensive range of tasty plant-based alternatives like sausages, burger patties, meatballs, and minced meats. All their products are certified vegan and use protein sources like peas, mung beans, and fava beans. 

 

17. Califia’s plant-based Almond Milk is easily found in grocery stores across North America. In addition, Califia has a range of vegan products that include milk, creamer coffee, juices, and yogurt. The company’s products were made to improve health, protect animals and ecosystems, and help world hunger. They are committed to providing sustainable and ethically made products and support the plant-based cause. 

 

18. Louisville Vegan Jerky comes in Smoky BBQ and contains 15 grams of protein per bag with only 4 grams of fat. It is made with soy protein and other organic ingredients. It is non-GMO certified and cholesterol-free. Fun fact: Louisville’s Jerkies were an accidental invention when the founder left some soy protein baking and forgot to set the timer. As a result, the soy was overdone, super chewy, and the Louisville Jerky was invented. 

 

19. Vegan ice creams have gone so mainstream that ice cream giants like Haagen Dazs and Ben & Jerry’s have jumped on the bandwagon and started offering vegan products in their range. Instead of dairy, any plant-based milk can be used in its place.

Common dairy alternatives include almonds, soy, cashews, and coconut. Here’s a small list of vegan ice cream options: 

• Trader Joe’s Soy Cream
• Tofutti Premium Pints
• Dream’s Almond Dream 
• Daiya’s Chocolate Crunch Bars
• Luna and Larry’s Coconut Bliss
• Brave Robot’s Animal-Free Ice Cream
• Forrager’s Cashewmilk Ice Cream 
• Ben & Jerry’s has a selection of non-dairy pints
• Haagen Dazs has a non-dairy collection 
• Oatley 
• Ripple
• So Delicious
• Double Rainbow
• Halo Top

 

20. Best Foods Vegan Dressing offers a dairy-free substitute for mayonnaise. The original Best Foods mayonnaise is hugely popular, and they wanted to offer a vegan-friendly alternative without sacrificing taste and quality. Packed in 100% recycled plastic, Best Food Dressings are perfect for burger spreads, salads, and sandwiches. 

 

21. Awake Human’s Organic Moisturizer is made with shea butter and aloe vera. In addition to being a certified organic product, this invaluable addition to your skincare routine is 100% cruelty-free, vegan, and has never been tested on animals. 

 

22. To complement your makeup collection, the makeup brushes from Elate are 100% vegan and cruelty-free, containing no animal hair. They make for easy cleaning and naturally repels bacteria. Bamboo is an antibacterial and hypoallergenic material, making these brushes ideal for people with sensitive skin or allergies. 

 

23. Honest Beauty’s Liquid Lipstick comes in 8 colors and different finishes like matte and shine. The moisturizing properties of this product come from avocado oil. This cruelty-free, vegan product outperforms several other brands, and when it’s applied on, it stays on. 

 

24. Pacifica’s Foundation Powder works by applying a sheer finish to oily skin and hydrating with wild cherry extract and coconut water. It is a vegan product that contains no parabens, phthalates, and other harmful toxins. 

 

25. Vegan clothing retailer Grinning Goat (that’s us!) is located in Calgary, Alberta. Our products don’t contain any animal products or by-products, including all adhesives, buttons, and accessories. 

We have been providing vegan clothing since 2017 and now offer a wide range of ethically produced clothing. We offer free shipping within the US and Canada for all orders over $75 and free local shipping within 30km for orders above $39. Come check out our shop!

 

How Do You Find Vegan Products?

 

These days, vegan products can be found everywhere. Large grocery stores have organic and vegan sections, and clothing manufacturers have added vegan lines to their product offerings. 

Look for one of the several vegan stamps of approval. Here are some of the more common logos. 

This certification logo is most commonly found in the Americas but is used worldwide. It is a registered trademark by Vegan.org. The entire manufacturing process is taken into consideration while awarding this certification, not only ensuring that the products do not contain animal parts but also that no animal GMOs are used. 

They have certified 1,069 companies and have over 10,000 products in their database. 

This logo is used by the Vegan Society in the UK and was introduced in 1990. As of 2021, they have a database of over 54,000 products from more than 2,500 manufacturers. It is used in 108 countries and its use is still growing. 

The V-label is the European Vegetarian Union’s trademark. It was used as early as the 1970s and continues to be one of the most widely recognized labels throughout Europe. 

 

Conclusion 

 

The Vegan Food Market was valued at $14 billion in 2018 and is growing at an annual rate of 10.5%. Driven mainly by the demand in North America, it is projected to reach $31 billion by 2026. 

 

Retailers and fashion brands are introducing vegan products into their product offerings at impressive speeds to keep up with the growing demand. This trend shows no signs of slowing down, and the next few years will be interesting for vegans and vegetarians alike. 

 

As more of us shift into a plant-based diet and vegan lifestyles, more responsible shopping choices become even more available than ever. We hope you have enjoyed the list of products we have put together for you. Happy shopping!