If you’re a vegan, or plan to be one soon, it’s important to read the fine print on all of your supplements. Not only are some nutritional products made with animal byproducts, they can also contain toxic chemicals. These include nicotine and alloxal, which are both found in synthetic vitamins. In addition to these chemicals, many products contain sneaky animal ingredients, such as gelatin (derived from the bones and skin of animals like cattle), lanolin (from wool-bearing sheep) or beeswax (from honey-bearing bees). The good news is that if you’re willing to search for it, you can find dietary supplements that are 100% vegan.
The vegan supplements business is growing as consumers increasingly choose to avoid consuming meat and other foods with an animal origin. A burgeoning flexitarian population, which includes the increasing number of people who are not vegetarian or vegan but prefer to limit their consumption of animal products due to ethical concerns, is also driving demand. Several manufacturers are also introducing new products in line with the growing popularity of plant-based diets.
Moreover, the shift in focus towards the use of clean label products is also acting as a catalyst for growth in the market. With an emphasis on health, many brands are opting to replace the animal ingredients in their products with more plant-based alternatives to meet consumer preferences and regulatory requirements.
As a result, the vegan supplements business is expected to continue its steady growth over the forecast period. Several factors are contributing to this trend, including growing awareness among consumers of the benefits of plant-based diets, increased adoption of these products among those who follow strict vegan and vegetarian diets, and rising demand for protein supplements. Furthermore, the development of plant-based proteins in the industry, which are healthier and less processed than traditional meat-based proteins, is also helping to drive market growth.
With the advent of modern manufacturing and packaging techniques, it has become possible for supplement manufacturers to create clean-label vegan products. The global vegan supplements market is witnessing a rise in the number of companies that are introducing clean-label supplements, especially those containing protein and omega-3 fats. These supplements are designed to help athletes, bodybuilders and others achieve their desired results while avoiding unhealthy ingredients.
While the vegan supplements business is growing, there are still challenges to overcome. For example, many consumers do not understand the difference between a vegan and non-vegan product. This may lead to misinterpretation of product labels and confusion about what is and is not a vegan product.
To address these issues, some manufacturers are experimenting with different formulations to make it easier for consumers to choose plant-based products. For instance, Lonza manufactures a variety of vegan capsules and tablet coatings that offer options for vegetarians and vegans alike, including pullulan-based capsules and Vcaps (hypromellose) that can protect moisture-sensitive ingredients. Similarly, BioGrund produces colored coated tablets using natural colors instead of synthetic, mineral or animal-based colorants. In this way, these companies are making it easy for consumers to identify vegan products in the crowded supplement aisle.