By Susan Kim

Is Soy Sauce Vegan? What Every Plant-Based Eater Should Know

If you follow a vegan or plant-based lifestyle, reading ingredient labels becomes second nature. But when it comes to pantry staples like soy sauce, things can get confusing. It's made from soybeans, right? So it must be vegan... or is it?

In this article, we’ll break down everything you need to know about soy sauce and veganism—what’s safe, what to avoid, and which brands to trust.

✅ Vegan Ingredients Check

Traditional soy sauce is made using four simple ingredients:

  • Soybeans

  • Wheat (or sometimes rice, in gluten-free versions)

  • Salt

  • Water

These are all 100% plant-based. The fermentation process used in brewing soy sauce is also naturally vegan, making most traditional soy sauces technically vegan-friendly.

Types of Soy Sauce That Are Usually Vegan:

  • Naturally brewed soy sauce

  • Light soy sauce (Chinese or Japanese style)

  • Tamari (gluten-free, usually vegan)

  • Korean ganjang (depending on the recipe)

If you're buying a basic soy sauce, chances are high that it's vegan. But as always, the devil is in the details—especially when it comes to flavored or processed varieties.

🚫 Non-Vegan Soy Sauce Ingredients

While traditional soy sauce is typically vegan, some commercially processed or flavored varieties may contain non-vegan additives, such as:

Ingredients to Watch Out For:

  • Fish sauce or anchovy extract – sometimes added for extra umami

  • Bonito (fish flakes) – often used in Japanese dipping sauces or soy-based dressings

  • Honey – occasionally included in sweet soy sauces like kecap manis

  • Lactic acid (from dairy) – rare, but possible in cheaper or flavored sauces

  • Natural flavors – an ambiguous term that can include animal-derived ingredients

Pro Tip:

Always check the ingredients label and look for “vegan” certifications on the bottle. Even if it looks like standard soy sauce, added flavorings could be non-vegan.

🏆 Recommended Vegan Soy Sauce Brands

To make things easier, here are some trusted soy sauce brands that consistently offer vegan options:

✅ Top Vegan-Friendly Soy Sauce Brands:

  1. San-J Tamari (gluten-free and certified vegan)

  2. Kikkoman Naturally Brewed Soy Sauce (vegan in most markets)

  3. Yamasa Soy Sauce (naturally brewed, no animal products)

  4. Eden Foods Organic Tamari Soy Sauce

  5. Ohsawa Organic Nama Shoyu

If you're shopping online or at a specialty grocery store, also check for labels marked:

  • “Certified Vegan”

  • “No animal products”

  • “No fish or shellfish derivatives”

🌱 Final Thoughts

So, is soy sauce vegan? In most cases—yes! Traditional soy sauces are naturally brewed with plant-based ingredients and are completely safe for vegans. But flavored or enhanced versions may contain fish, honey, or other animal-derived additives.

To stay on the safe side, stick to well-known brands, read ingredient labels carefully, and look for certified vegan symbols when in doubt.

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