does mayo have pork in it

Does Mayonnaise Contain Pork? The Surprising Truth

Mayonnaise is a creamy, egg-based condiment that is a staple in many households and restaurants. It’s commonly used in sandwiches, dips, salad dressings, and more But does this flavorful sauce actually contain pork? The answer may surprise you.

While traditional mayonnaise is made primarily from egg yolks, vinegar, and oil, some mass-produced varieties include unexpected animal ingredients like gelatin, whey, and modified food starch, which can be derived from pork.

Below, we’ll take a comprehensive look at the typical ingredients in mayo and discuss when and why pork derivatives may be present. We’ll also provide tips for identifying and avoiding pork-based mayonnaise.

The Standard Mayo Ingredients

Homemade and high-quality mayo is made with just a few base ingredients:

• Eggs: Mayonnaise is an emulsion of oil and egg yolks. The lecithin in the yolks acts as the emulsifier.

• Oil: Vegetable oils like canola, soybean, and olive oil make up the majority of mayo.

• Vinegar or lemon juice This provides acidity to stabilize the emulsion

• Salt and spices To enhance flavor. Common spices include black pepper, paprika garlic powder onion powder, etc.

As you can see, traditional mayonnaise contains no pork whatsoever. The core ingredients—eggs, oils, vinegar—are completely vegetarian and pork-free.

But mass-produced varieties include extra ingredients that allow the mayo to stay shelf-stable and retain the desired texture. This is where pork derivatives sometimes sneak in.

Potential Pork Ingredients in Mayo

Here are some animal-derived ingredients to watch out for in commercial mayonnaise:

• Gelatin: Gelatin is commonly made from pork skins, bones, and connective tissues. It works as a stabilizer and thickener.

• Whey: Milk whey is a byproduct of cheesemaking. Whey powder adds a creamy, cheesy flavor. Pork enzymes are sometimes used in whey production.

• Mono- and diglycerides: Emulsifiers that keep the mayo from separating. Lard and beef fat are common sources.

• Polysorbate 60: Emulsifier derived from stearic acid, which can come from pork fat.

• Modified food starch: Thickens and stabilizes. The source starch may be corn, wheat, tapioca, or potato. Pork enzymes help modify the starches.

• Natural flavors: Manufacturers don’t have to disclose the source. Could come from pork, vegetables, or synthetic sources.

• Artificial colors: Red #40 dye is made from crushed beetles, which some religions prohibit.

As you can see, the concerning ingredients fall into two categories:

1. Animal-derived stabilizers, thickeners, and emulsifiers

2. Enzymes derived from pork pancreas

Animal-based additives like gelatin allow the mayo to achieve a thick, creamy texture and prevent separation. Pork enzymes help process and modify starches and byproducts like whey.

While these additives make shelf-stable mayo possible, natural pork-free alternatives exist. Some brands use ingredients like pea protein, modified corn starch, and guar gum instead.

Why Do Companies Use Pork in Mayo?

There are a few reasons manufacturers add pork-derived ingredients to mayonnaise:

• Cost-effectiveness: Pork gelatin, whey, and fat are cheaper than plant-based alternatives. This allows companies to maximize profits.

• Texture and stability: Ingredients like gelatin produce a thick, creamy product that retains its consistency at room temperature.

• shelf-life: Pork derivatives allow mayo to resist spoilage and separation during shipping and storage.

• Flavor: For some brands, pork enzymes provide a more desirable cheesy, savory taste.

While these additives provide certain advantages, natural substitutes exist. Some quality brands manage to achieve excellent texture, flavor, and stability without any animal products.

How to Check if Mayonnaise Contains Pork

Reading the ingredient list is the best way to determine if a mayonnaise contains pork. Here are some guidelines:

• Scan for the specific ingredients listed earlier like gelatin, whey, glycerides, modified food starch, and natural flavors.

• Look out for general terms like “natural flavors,” “vegetable broth,” or “animal enzymes.” The source is ambiguous.

• Avoid mayos with artificial colors, especially Red 40 dye. It’s made from insects.

• Check for kosher certification symbols like “OU Pareve.” This confirms no meat/dairy.

• Call or email the manufacturer if you’re unsure about certain ingredients.

• When in doubt, refer to vegan brands like Just Mayo, Nayonaise, Vegenaise, etc. They’re guaranteed pork-free.

Checking labels takes some extra effort, but is worthwhile if you want to avoid hidden animal products. With practice, you’ll learn to quickly identify potential pork ingredients.

Popular Brands That Contain Pork

Many familiar mayonnaise brands contain some amount of pork. Here are a few to be cautious of:

• Hellmann’s: Uses pork-derived gelatin and whey powder. Also includes artificial colors.

• Kraft Mayo: Contains gelatin and whey powder. Also uses enzymes of porcine (pig) origin.

• Duke’s Mayo: No gelatin, but includes porcine enzymes and animal enzymes.

• Blue Plate: Uses vague terms like “natural flavors” that could come from pork.

• Best Foods: Owned by Hellmann’s, so contains pork gelatin and whey.

• Miracle Whip: Does not actually qualify as mayonnaise. Contains pork gelatin and whey.

• Heinz: Uses modified food starch from an undisclosed source, possibly pork.

Again, you’ll need to carefully read the labels since ingredients vary between regular, light, olive oil, and flavored varieties. But these major brands commonly use pork-derived additives.

Brands of Mayo Without Pork

Thankfully, it’s easy to find commercial mayonnaise with no pork-based ingredients. Here are some widely available options:

• Just Mayo: Uses pea protein instead of egg yolks. Completely vegan.

• Sir Kensington’s: Uses non-GMO sunflower lecithin as the emulsifier.

• Primal Kitchen: Avocado oil-based. Only whole food ingredients.

• Chosen Foods: Uses organic expeller-pressed oil. No artificial additives.

• Spectrum Organic: Made with cage-free eggs and non-GMO expeller-pressed oil.

• Helmann’s Olive Oil Mayo: Replaces gelatin with mustard flour and guar gum.

• Kraft Olive Oil Mayo: Omits pork gelatin compared to original variety.

• Cains All Natural: No thickeners, whey, or gelatin. Non-GMO expeller-pressed oils.

There are also many excellent restaurant-quality and small batch mayos to try made with avocado oil, olive oil, or cage-free eggs. Local brands at farmer’s markets or health stores are a good bet.

Or you can easily make your own creamy mayo at home with just eggs, oil, vinegar, and seasoning. This lets you control the quality of ingredients.

The Bottom Line

While traditional homemade mayonnaise contains no pork ingredients, mass-produced varieties sometimes include pork-based derivatives like gelatin, whey, and enzymes. These additives stabilize, thicken, and flavor shelf-stable mayo.

To avoid pork, read the ingredient lists carefully or choose brands that use plant-based natural ingredients. There are many widely available commercial mayos that omit concerning additives like Hellmann’s, Primal Kitchen, Chosen Foods, and Sir Kensington’s. High quality restaurant or small batch mayos are another good option.

Making your own mayo at home gives you total control over the ingredients. All you need are egg yolks, oil, acid like lemon juice or vinegar, and salt/spices. With basic techniques, you can easily whip up flavorful homemade mayonnaise free of any animal products.

So while some commercial mayonnaise contains a small amount of pork derivatives, you have many alternatives to choose from. With label reading skills and homemade recipes, you can enjoy the creaminess and versatility of mayo without the pork.