soymilk with vegan vitamin D

[sage68]

I was just wondering what soymilk brand is actually vegan or has no ties to the meat industry. I heard that 8th Continent brand has vitamin D in it that is animal derived and that Silk brand soymilk is manufactured by a large meat packing company. What brands are safe?

[Mahk]

8th Continent switched to the vegan kind of vitamin D, D2 (ergocalciferol) some years back, I believe, so no worries there. As for Silk being owned by a meat industry (I thought it was really more of a dairy industry (http://company.monster.com/whitew/), but, whatever) I don't personally buy into that as a reason for rejection. Many foods I eat are made by omni companies and I shop at omni food stores (vegan food stores don't exist where I live) so my buying dollars are going into the hands of omni stores and omni food makers. Buying all one's goods, food and otherwise, from only vegan companies would be quite difficult where I live at least.

[Roxy]

What about Vitasoy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitasoy)?

[Mahk]

Vitasoy in the US (http://www.vitasoy-usa.com/brands/index.php) also makes Nasoya brand which makes omni goods such as these egg containing (http://www.nasoya.com/nasoya/pasta_wonton.html)won ton wraps. Does that matter, though? I guess I don't fully understand the reasoning behind the request. I'd like to buy all my goods from vegan only companies at vegan only stores but that's impossible where I live. I hear Oregon is much more vegan friendly so maybe it's feasible there.

[Roxy]

Maybe sage would just prefer to give her money to more ethical companies than less ethical companies. Nothing wrong with that. I do it all the time wherever possible.

[fondducoeur]

I'm not so sure its true about 8th Continent switching to vitamin D3. I used to work for The Solae Company who processes the soy for the 8th Continent soy milk (its a joint venture, Solae's name is actually on the container), and when I read (on this forum) that they used vitamin D3, I was really upset, and went and checked it out at the store and it was still D3. That was only last summer. But they might have been in the middle of switching and not on the shelves.

[sage68]

Thanks Roxy. Yes, I would rather give my money to more ethical companies if at all possible. I do realize that it may not always be an option but I wanted to check and see if it is. I would think that it would be, given how many different soy companies are out there. I did check the ingredient list on my 8th continent milk in the fridge and it does say D2. So D2 is the not the animal derived one?

[Roxy]

Correct. D2 is from plant sources. :)

[Aradia]

You could consider making your own, then nothing but soya beans and water goes into it.

Also, it works out soooo cheap! And it's fresh.

If you get a soya milk maker it also makes tofu-making much easier and less messy.

I love my soya milk maker. It's my best friend :p

[xrodolfox]

I buy Silk brand soymilk.