Question: Is unbleached sugar vegan?
By: Helen Pitlick
Published: July 26, 2010

Most refined sugar isn't considered vegan because charred animal bones are used to filter it. I've noticed that many natural markets sell both vegan sugar and organic sugar, both of which are beige and a little coarser than white sugar. I usually buy the organic, because it doesn't look like it's been refined and it's cheaper. Is this assumption correct?

Answers:
Chris Paulk

I was so surprised by this question- I looked it up! It never occurred to me before! Here's what i found.
"Over half of the cane refineries in the United States use bone char (charcoal made from animal bones) as their activated carbon source. The bone char used in this filtering process is so far removed from its animal source that cane sugar processed in this method is deemed kosher pareve, which, according to Jewish dietary laws, means that it contains no meat or milk in any form as an ingredient. A number of vegans disagree with this perspective."
The charcoal used has been transformed -(prior to the cooking of the sugar) to carbon and is no longer an animal by-product, so at that point it becomes a personal choice. FYI. Beet sugar does not require the extra process -so beet sugar would be undeniably vegan.
raichement

This is an interesting question. I researched a bit on Google, and some people are claiming that USDA organic sugar companies usually follow the same procedures as vegan sugar companies (or if they are also part of the same company). However, there is no solid evidence suggesting that organic and vegan come in one sugary package. As a former vegan for 4 years, I'd suggest buying the vegan sugar. In fact, I am Googling "organic vegan sugar" and am not getting the results I expected. (I expected to have found a few solid products). Woodstock says they carry several vegan sugar "in addition" to their organic sugars. Such rhetoric. Buy the vegan, definitely.
Helen Pitlick

Thanks both of you! I guess I'd better just shell out the extra money for vegan sugar, though I'm rather intrigued by this beet sugar you recommend, Chris.