01 / READ THE LABEL

Words to watch for

MIDORII

One postcard per word. On the front, the word as you'll see it on the packet. On the back, its other spellings, where it hides, and the trap to know about.

AVOID never vegan CHECK depends on the word next to it OK plant-based, a good sign

Avoid

Never vegan: if you see one of these, put the pack back.

AVOID Pork AVOID Beef AVOID Chicken AVOID Bonito flakes AVOID Dried sardines AVOID Flying fish stock AVOID Bonito plum AVOID Fish and seafood AVOID Whitebait AVOID Fish cake AVOID Shrimp and crab AVOID Oyster sauce AVOID Egg AVOID Tempura crumbs AVOID Milk AVOID Casein and rennet AVOID Gelatine AVOID Honey AVOID Animal fat AVOID Lard AVOID Cochineal (red dye)

Check

It depends on the word next to it: read the rest of the list.

CHECK Meat CHECK Extract CHECK Stock CHECK Noodle sauce CHECK Rice seasoning CHECK Consommé and bouillon CHECK Margarine and shortening CHECK Mirin and cooking sake CHECK Contains some … CHECK Free from CHECK Rice cake

Good signs

Plant-based words worth looking for, and a few that only look scary.

OK No animal ingredients OK Plant-derived OK Vegan certified OK Tofu OK Thick fried tofu OK Fried tofu pouch OK Tofu skin OK Soy milk OK Soy meat OK Konjac OK Agar OK Kudzu starch OK Kelp stock OK Shiitake stock OK Vegetable oil OK Rice flour OK Sesame OK Seaweed sheets OK Wakame seaweed OK Hijiki seaweed OK Oat milk OK Almond milk OK Emulsifier OK Lactic acid OK Seasoning (amino acids) OK Yeast extract OK Vegetable extract OK Thickeners OK Natto OK Miso paste OK Pickled plum