Hydrogen Peroxide — Hidden Processing Agent — Is It Vegan?

Vegan status: Vegan

Also known as: H₂O₂, Food-grade hydrogen peroxide

Source

Produced industrially by the anthraquinone oxidation process. Entirely synthetic with no animal products.

Used in

Milk and whey pasteurisation (alternative to heat), cheese manufacturing (oxidation of carotenoids for white cheese), tofu and soy product processing, food equipment sanitisation, bleaching of flour (historical, now largely replaced), packaging sterilisation (aseptic processing).

Appears on label: No. Not required on labels when used as a processing aid. Breaks down to water and oxygen, leaving no residue.

How to avoid

No need to avoid — hydrogen peroxide is vegan.

Notes

Food-grade hydrogen peroxide (3-12% concentration, compared to 30-50% for industrial grades) decomposes to water and oxygen, leaving no chemical residue. Its use in aseptic packaging sterilisation is significant — most Tetra Pak-type cartons are sterilised with H₂O₂ before filling.