Yes, sodium lactate is vegan and dairy-free

The full answer

Sodium lactate sounds like it comes from milk, and it's often found in meat, so it's easy to assume it isn't vegan. The ingredient itself is plant-based.

It's made by fermenting plant sugars, usually from corn or beets, into lactic acid, then neutralizing that acid with sodium. There's no milk, no lactose and no milk protein in it.

The catch is where it's used. Most sodium lactate goes into deli meats, hot dogs and pre-cooked chicken, so the products that contain it often aren't vegan. In plant-based meats, it does the same job of keeping them moist and fresh.

If you have a severe milk allergy and want full certainty, look for a vegan or dairy-free logo, which covers every ingredient.

What to look for on the label

• "Sodium lactate" alone is plant-based
• Check the rest of the label: it's mostly used in meat
• Calcium lactate and potassium lactate are vegan too

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