You might be surprised to learn that sorbet, Italian ice, sherbet, dairy-free ice cream and vegan ice cream are all different kinds of delectable, frozen treats.
Understanding ice cream, it seems, should not be rocket science. It is, however, food science!
Luckily, Scoops owner Mark Wavinak’s daughter, Julie, is a food scientist who has worked with some of the most reputable food producers in the nation (General Mills, to name one) and can talk about it in a way that doesn’t send any of us running.
We sat down with her to get the final ruling on what it all means.
What is sorbet (“sohr-bay”)?
“Sorbet is made from water and pureed fruit,” says Julie, “Often times, it is sweetened with either sugar or honey.”
You may have also enjoyed Italian Ice. The difference between the two? How the fruit is prepared: sorbet is made of pureed fruit while Italian ice is made strictly from fruit juice. Be careful of the potential misnomer, though. Italian Ice is also different from gelato, but that is for another time.
The verdict: sorbet and Italian Ice are both dairy-free and vegan, since neither contain dairy or other animal products like egg or butter.
What is sherbet, then?
Sherbet is a variety of ice cream that contains a significantly smaller amount of dairy than your standard ice cream. According to the FDA, sherbet must contain less than 2 percent milkfat. Sherbet is primarily fruit-based but contains either milk or buttermilk, which gives it a creamier, smoother texture than sorbet.
The verdict: sherbet contains dairy and is therefore not dairy-free or vegan. The pronunciation, however, is still up for debate.
So what about vegan ice cream?
“‘Vegan’ simply means that whatever product it is, it is plant-based and made free of any animal products,” says Julie.
Most vegan ice creams are made with coconut milk, almond milk or soy milk. All of those bases come from plants, and none include anything that comes from an animal. If, however, an ice cream is made with coconut milk but contains egg, it is dairy-free but not vegan, since it has egg.
The verdict: Vegan ice cream is made from a plant-based material and contains no product that comes from an animal.
Is dairy-free ice cream different from vegan ice cream then?
“Technically, yes,” Julie clarifies, “Since dairy-free means that the product is only free of dairy, but not necessarily other animal products.”
Uff da. Technicalities.
The verdict: All vegan ice creams are dairy-free, but not all dairy-free ice creams are necessarily vegan. Be sure to check the label of whatever it is that you are buying or consuming to be sure that it is truly vegan.
At Scoops, we prioritize food safety and dietary needs. We clearly label and identify all of our hand scooped flavors to denote if they are dairy-free, vegan, gluten-free, peanut-free and tree-nut free. As always, though, if you have a question, please ask! We almost always have flavors in stock that fit the above qualities, including gluten-free cones.
Let our servers know, too, if you have a specific dietary restriction and are concerned about cross contamination. It is our procedure to sanitize the scoop and open a fresh tub of ice cream for those who wish to indulge in a frozen treat but need dietary accommodations.
Oh, by the way, Vegan chocolate from Sebastian Joe’s is here! It’s called “Nuclear Pudding.” And, yes, it is that good.
FAQs
Most vegan ice creams are made with coconut milk, almond milk or soy milk. All of those bases come from plants, and none include anything that comes from an animal. If, however, an ice cream is made with coconut milk but contains egg, it is dairy-free but not vegan, since it has egg.
Does dairy-free mean vegan? ›
A vegan diet excludes all animal products, including dairy, eggs, meat, and fish, whereas a dairy-free diet bans all milk products but not necessarily any other animal products. While all vegan foods are inherently dairy-free, not all dairy-free foods are vegan.
What do vegans eat instead of ice cream? ›
- Option #1 Avocado Ice Cream.
- Option #2 Coconut Ice Cream.
- Option #3 Cashew Ice Cream.
- Option #4 Soy Ice Cream.
- Option #5 Almond Ice Cream with Ben & Jerry's.
- Option #6 A Hybrid-Coconut and Cashew Ice Cream.
- The Bright Future of the Non-Dairy Ice Cream Market.
That being said, normal ice cream is a no unless the vegan in question cheats on their “diet”, but there are plenty of vegan ice creams that one can eat. The easiest way to explain being vegan is that you basically become a herbivore. No eggs, no milk or cheese, no meat, no gelatin, some vegans even don't use honey.
Is dairy-free ice cream vegan? ›
Most vegan ice creams are made with coconut milk, almond milk or soy milk. All of those bases come from plants, and none include anything that comes from an animal. If, however, an ice cream is made with coconut milk but contains egg, it is dairy-free but not vegan, since it has egg.
Can vegans drink milk? ›
Vegans do not eat foods that come from animals, including dairy products and eggs.
Is Chick Fil A ice cream vegan? ›
You can get a whole grain tortilla wrap and request veggies added to that. Does Chick-fil-A have vegan milkshakes? No. At this time all Chick-fil-A milkshakes contain dairy, as well as their ice cream.
Are McDonald's ice cream vegan? ›
"Vanilla Reduced Fat Ice Cream Ingredients: Milk, Sugar, Cream, Corn Syrup, Natural Flavor, Mono And Diglycerides, Cellulose Gum, Guar Gum, Carrageenan, Vitamin A Palmitate." -- https://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en-us/product/vanilla-cone.html... It does contain dairy, but they can't legally call it ice cream.
Is McDonald's ice cream non dairy? ›
What's in a McDonald's McFlurry? A typical (non-vegan) McDonald's McFlurry contains dairy ice cream, milk power, whey powder, glucose syrup, and other flavoring. You can see the full list of ingredients here (though this is subject to change).
Are Oreos vegan? ›
Many vegans refer to Oreos as “accidentally vegan,” meaning they don't contain animal products — but they weren't created to be a specifically vegan treat. Oreos do not contain milk, eggs, or any other animal-derived products, so they are technically vegan in that sense. Plant-based cookies and cream lovers rejoice!
Sherbet is made with fruit and a dairy, like milk or cream, so it's definitely not vegan or lactose intolerant friendly, which may come as a surprise to many! "Egg white or gelatin is sometimes added, too, and there are federal regulations that mandate sherbet/sherbert should have 1–2 percent butterfat," she says.
What common cereals are vegan? ›
A vegan diet excludes all animal products, such as dairy, eggs, honey, and gelatin. Popular cereal brands such as Cheerios, Special K, Raisin Bran, and Frosted Flakes are vegan-friendly. Specialized vegan cereals include Nature's Path, One Degree Organic Foods, Kashi, and Cascadian Farm.
What to avoid as a vegan? ›
Vegans don't eat any foods made from animals, including:
- Beef, pork, lamb, and other red meat.
- Chicken, duck, and other poultry.
- Fish or shellfish such as crabs, clams, and mussels.
- Eggs.
- Cheese.
- Butter.
- Milk, cream, ice cream, and other dairy products.
- Mayonnaise (because it includes egg yolks)
While dark chocolate is usually vegan-friendly, milk and white chocolate typically are not. Milk Chocolate, as the name implies, contains dairy, making it not vegan, unless it is made with a nondairy milk like oat milk or almond milk. White Chocolate also frequently contains dairy products.
What does dairy-free mean? ›
What's a Dairy-Free Diet? A dairy-free diet is one that has no animal milk in it, or any products made from milk.
What is it called when you are vegan but eat dairy? ›
A lacto-vegetarian diet is a plant-based diet that includes dairy products, as the “lacto” prefix suggests. This variation includes dairy products like cow's milk and foods made with it. These can include cheese, butter, sour cream, yogurt, and ice cream. It excludes all meats, like beef, pork, chicken, and fish.
Does no dairy mean no eggs? ›
Eggs are often mistakenly categorized as dairy, but eggs are not dairy products. Eggs are laid by birds, which do not have mammary glands. Dairy products are items like yogurt, cheese and milk. You can eat eggs if you follow a dairy-free diet or if you have lactose intolerance.
Does dairy-free mean no eggs? ›
Did you know…? Eggs are still a part of a dairy-free diet. Even though they are found in the dairy section of the grocery store, eggs do not contain milk sugar and milk proteins. Eggs are safe to eat in a milk-free diet.
