Is it vegan? Ingredients
Is sugar vegan?
Quick answer: It depends where you are. Sugar is a plant product, but some refined cane sugar — mainly in the US — is whitened using bone char from cattle bones; beet sugar is never processed with bone char.
Also called: white sugar, cane sugar, beet sugar, refined sugar, icing sugar, brown sugar
The details
PETA explains that bone char, made from cattle bones, is widely used by parts of the sugar industry as a decolorising filter for cane sugar. Beet sugar, though normally refined, never involves bone char, and some cane sugar producers do not use it.
The Vegetarian Resource Group reports that bone char is the main way non-organic cane sugar is decolourised in the US, but that it is not permitted in USDA 100% certified organic cane sugar. Most European sugar is beet sugar, and experts it consulted in England, France and Germany believe bone char is no longer used in Europe.
Bone char does not end up in the sugar, and some vegans do not worry about it; others avoid it as a matter of principle. Sugar in vegan-certified products is free of bone char.
What to look for on the label
- beet sugar (no bone char)
- organic cane sugar (USDA organic: no bone char)
- unrefined or raw cane sugar
- vegan-certified sugar
Where it’s found
- Almost all sweet foods and drinks
Vegan alternatives
- Beet sugar
- Certified organic cane sugar
- Unrefined cane sugars such as Sucanat or turbinado
- Maple, agave or date syrup
Frequently asked questions
Is sugar vegan?
It depends where you are. Sugar is a plant product, but some refined cane sugar — mainly in the US — is whitened using bone char from cattle bones; beet sugar is never processed with bone char.
Is UK sugar vegan?
Sugar grown and refined in the UK is almost certainly not processed with bone char, according to the Vegan Society as quoted by the VRG.
Is brown sugar vegan?
Not necessarily: some brown sugar is refined white sugar with molasses added back. The same cane vs beet rules apply.
Sources
- Are animal ingredients included in white sugar? — PETA
- Is organic sugar in England and throughout Europe always vegan? — The Vegetarian Resource Group
- Ingredient questions and answers — The Vegetarian Resource Group
Checked on 31 October 2026. Ingredients and recipes change, and the same product can differ between countries — always check the current label. This page is general information, not allergy or medical advice.