# can vegetarians eat beef broth? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 16, 2015, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-vegetarians-eat-beef-broth/710001 "2015-01-16T17:57:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-vegetarians-eat-beef-broth/710001/61 "2015-01-27T01:00:12Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > They don’t use tallow anymore, but they do use beef-derived flavorings, as far as I know. [Their own website](http://www.mcdonalds.com/content/us/en/your_questions/our_food/are-your-fries-vegetarian-friendly.html) says they fry the fries in oil containing “natural beef flavoring,” so I’d avoid it if I were to keep vegetarian. The “natural beef flavoring” is hydrolyzed wheat and milk proteins. [http://eatocracy.cnn.com/2014/07/17/what-exactly-is-in-mcdonalds-french-fries/](http://eatocracy.cnn.com/2014/07/17/what-exactly-is-in-mcdonalds-french-fries/) ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-vegetarians-eat-beef-broth/710001/62 "2015-01-27T01:14:20Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > The “natural beef flavoring” is hydrolyzed wheat and milk proteins. > > [http://eatocracy.cnn.com/2014/07/17/what-exactly-is-in-mcdonalds-french-fries/](http://eatocracy.cnn.com/2014/07/17/what-exactly-is-in-mcdonalds-french-fries/) Turns out you’re not representing your cite accurately: > [@CNN](#): > > “Natural beef flavor,” which contains hydrolyzed wheat and milk proteins that could be a source of meaty-tasting amino acids.] From [McDonalds](http://www.mcdonalds.com/content/us/en/your_questions/our_food/are-your-fries-vegetarian-friendly.html) > [@McDonalds](#): > > At this time, none of our menu items are certified as vegetarian or vegan. The oil our suppliers use to partially fry our World Famous Fries has a natural beef flavoring, which also contains hydrolyzed milk as a starting ingredient, added to enhance the taste. Note that it CONTAINS wheat and milk, not IS wheat and milk. Does your car contain gas? Is your car gas? ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-vegetarians-eat-beef-broth/710001/63 "2015-01-27T01:49:51Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Turns out you’re not representing your cite accurately: > > From [McDonalds](http://www.mcdonalds.com/content/us/en/your_questions/our_food/are-your-fries-vegetarian-friendly.html) > Note that it CONTAINS wheat and milk, not IS wheat and milk. Does your car contain gas? Is your car gas? You’re misrepresenting the situation at McDonalds. Why did you say that their fries contain beef tallow? That hasn’t been true for many years. The hydrolyzed wheat and milk proteins have amino acids that taste “like” beef. They can’t “certify” that their food is vegetarian because they don’t have a reasonable way to prevent cross contamination in their food prep area. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-vegetarians-eat-beef-broth/710001/64 "2015-01-27T02:47:16Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > The “natural beef flavoring” is hydrolyzed wheat and milk proteins. > > [http://eatocracy.cnn.com/2014/07/17/what-exactly-is-in-mcdonalds-french-fries/](http://eatocracy.cnn.com/2014/07/17/what-exactly-is-in-mcdonalds-french-fries/) Well, that will at least disqualify them from being vegan. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-vegetarians-eat-beef-broth/710001/65 "2015-01-27T03:02:45Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Well, that will at least disqualify them from being vegan. Correct, which McDonalds openly admits on their website. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-vegetarians-eat-beef-broth/710001/66 "2015-01-27T03:03:56Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > You’re misrepresenting the situation at McDonalds. Why did you say that their fries contain beef tallow? That hasn’t been true for many years. I concede that there’s no evidence they contain beef tallow now. On the rest of what I said, I’m correct and you’re wrong :). ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-vegetarians-eat-beef-broth/710001/67 "2015-01-27T03:25:43Z")
> [@Uniqueorn](#): > > My partner…would never drink non-vegetarian beer. Uh…what other kind is there? ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-vegetarians-eat-beef-broth/710001/68 "2015-01-27T04:23:29Z")
Staight from the [clown’s mouth](http://www.mcdonalds.com/content/us/en/your_questions/our_food/are-your-fries-vegetarian-friendly.html): > [@](#): > > At this time, none of our menu items are certified as vegetarian or vegan. The oil our suppliers use to partially fry our World Famous Fries has a natural beef flavoring, which also contains hydrolyzed milk as a starting ingredient, added to enhance the taste. Natural beef flavoring contains beef. In terribly small amounts, to be sure, but beef nonetheless. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-vegetarians-eat-beef-broth/710001/69 "2015-01-27T05:04:57Z")
> [@andros](#): > > Staight from the [clown’s mouth](http://www.mcdonalds.com/content/us/en/your_questions/our_food/are-your-fries-vegetarian-friendly.html): > > Natural beef flavoring contains beef. In terribly small amounts, to be sure, but beef nonetheless. Cite? McDonalds says that they use wheat and milk to provide the “beef” flavor. Much like chefs use mushrooms to provide a “beefy” flavor. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-vegetarians-eat-beef-broth/710001/70 "2015-01-27T11:38:59Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Cite? > > McDonalds says that they use wheat and milk to provide the “beef” flavor. Much like chefs use mushrooms to provide a “beefy” flavor. In the quote from McDonald’s, what is the point of the word “also” under your interpretation? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-vegetarians-eat-beef-broth/710001/71 "2015-01-27T12:47:27Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Correct, which McDonalds openly admits on their website. Yes, hence my saying I’d avoid it if I were to keep vegetarian. (They admit both that they cannot guarantee their food being vegetarian or vegan.) The curious thing about this is there was a lawsuit years back [concerning Hindus and McDonald’s fries](http://www.cbsnews.com/news/mcdonalds-settles-beef-over-fries/). As you may know, Hindus traditionally do not eat beef, but they are lacto-vegetarian. If there was only milk-derived product in the fry oil, I don’t understand why McDonald’s had to settle this lawsuit rather than admit, guys, it’s just milk. (Or perhaps things have changed again in the past 10 years or so). ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-vegetarians-eat-beef-broth/710001/72 "2015-01-27T13:14:28Z")
I always piss someone off when I point this out, but… There are different types and degrees of vegetarianism. they range from eating less meat (or cutting out red meat but allowing the occasional fish or fowl) to avoiding anything that comes from an animal. There are gradations in between, people drawing the line at eggs or dairy. Vegans would like to define other people’s vegetarian experience, and some snake handlers would like to decide who is a “real” Christian. Neither group has my sympathy. Boca Burgers have fun sayings printed on their wrappers. My favorite is “It’s 50% better to be a vegetarian half the time than to be a meat eater 100% of the time.” Wise words. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-vegetarians-eat-beef-broth/710001/73 "2015-01-27T15:41:48Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Cite? > > McDonalds says that they use wheat and milk to provide the “beef” flavor. Much like chefs use mushrooms to provide a “beefy” flavor. Citation was provided. If somehow you choose to interpret it as saying that there is no beef in “natural beef flavor,” I certainly will not attempt to dissuade you. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-vegetarians-eat-beef-broth/710001/74 "2015-01-27T15:47:00Z")
Check that; since I happen to have a search window still open, here ya go. From[May 3, 2014](http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=93386): > [@](#): > > In 1990, McDonald’s announced it would use only pure vegetable oil when making the fries, but the plaintiffs in the suit cite a recent company e-mail stating that tiny amounts of beef flavoring is used in the fries… > > McDonald’s said in a statement that the restaurant chain had never claimed its French fries were vegetarian. It said that the company freely provides ingredient information to anyone who requests it. > > The company said it uses a “miniscule trace” of beef flavoring, and does not use beef fat. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-vegetarians-eat-beef-broth/710001/75 "2015-01-27T16:26:46Z")
The question “Can vegetarians eat beef broth” is much like the questions “Can Jews eat pork?” or “Can Catholics use birth control?” or “Can Muslims smoke?” The correct answer is, “They’re not SUPPOSED to, but some do.” ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-vegetarians-eat-beef-broth/710001/76 "2015-01-27T17:04:48Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Compost is OK, but a true vegan would never eat anything fertilized with manure or other animal products. Um… I’ve never heard a requirement that the plants a vegetarian eats have to be vegetarian themselves. In fact, some plants really seem to _enjoy_ a properly aged manure. ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-vegetarians-eat-beef-broth/710001/77 "2015-01-27T19:34:26Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > “Can Muslims smoke?” > > The correct answer is, “They’re not SUPPOSED to, but some do.” Smoking was the national pastime in Iraq when I was there. Literally everybody smoked cigarettes. Ever heard of hookahs? I think they’re not supposed to smoke during the day during Ramadan, but I met plenty of Iraqis who said “I’m sick”, and therefore Ramadan’s smoking commandments magically didn’t apply to them. ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-vegetarians-eat-beef-broth/710001/78 "2015-01-27T19:44:41Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > Since the spirit of the question in the OP has been thoroughly answered, let me do the pedantic nitpicking part. > Nope. In culinary terminology, beef \*broth \*is made from the meat and has a strong flavor of the beast it was made from. Beef \*stock \*is made from the bones, as intentionally not very flavorful so it can be used in other foods without flavor conflict. > > In most home kitchens, stock is made from both the meat and the bones, for stronger flavor and because it’s hard to get all the meat off, but a classic stock is bones only. > > [The Difference Between Stocks and Broths - Alton Brown](http://altonbrown.com/the-difference-between-stocks-and-broths/) Okay, thanks for that info, now what the hell is bullion? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-vegetarians-eat-beef-broth/710001/79 "2015-01-27T19:54:37Z")
Precious metals in ingot or bar form, normally. I think you mean bouillon, which is a type of spiced stock. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-vegetarians-eat-beef-broth/710001/80 "2015-01-27T20:51:50Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Precious metals in ingot or bar form, normally. Can vegetarians eat those? Iron ingots may contain iron molecules originally contained in hemoglobin or myoglobin. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-vegetarians-eat-beef-broth/710001.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-vegetarians-eat-beef-broth/710001.md?page=5)