No nuts, soy, gluten, dairy, eggs, or shellfish—these allergen-free vegan foods are for everyone to enjoy.

By: Tanya Flink
February 4, 2023

For 32 million people in the US, meal times can be complicated. Living with allergies means that consuming certain foods, such as dairy, shellfish, and nuts, can trigger a painful, (and in some cases, life-threatening) reaction. But while choosing what to have for dinner often takes a little more research for someone with an allergy, the good news is, it is still possible to enjoy a wide variety of innovative, delicious foods. Yep, even vegan ones. To help out allergy sufferers all over the country, we’ve compiled this list of some of the best allergen-free plant-based brands on the market. But first, here’s a little bit of background on some of the most common allergies in the country.

What is the most common food allergy?

According to the nonprofit Food Allergy Research & Education, more than 170 foods are known to cause allergic reactions in people in the US. But there are eight major allergens, and these tend to cause the most severe allergic reactions. These are milk, eggs, shellfish, fish, tree nuts, soy, wheat, and peanuts. Because the first four categories are animal products, a vegan diet naturally avoids them. But that said, most of their replacements are made with the subsequent four categories. This means that navigating a vegan world without peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, and soy can sometimes be challenging, but it’s far from impossible.

How do you eat plant-based with allergies?

Every year, more plant-based brands arrive on the market. And while soy used to be the go-to for products like vegan meat and eggs, brands are consistently opting for new, more innovative alternatives. Pea protein, for example, is now one of the most popular choices to make vegan meat. And in the dairy-free beverage world, oat milk is a go-to option for many people. There are even nut-free snack options, and egg-free sweet treats. To help you find the right options for you, here are the best and most accessible vegan staples for those with food allergies. However, one important note: some of the items below contain coconut, a type of tree nut. These items are labeled.

3. Big Mountain Foods

Soy-free tofu isn’t new—but Big Mountain Foods is making this niche product more accessible. In lieu of chickpea flour which is traditionally used to make soy-free tofu, this vegan meat company relies on fava beans to mimic the infinite versatility and texture of tofu. Other allergen-friendly Big Mountain Foods products include seasoned sausage links, crumbles, and patties. Note: the soy-free tofu is coconut-free, but other items such as the Breakfast Bites and Lion’s Mane Crumbles contain coconut oil. 

Read the full article on Veg News here.