The entity that produces and manufactures the ingredient (might be composed of multiple components). They provide the Certificate of Analysis (CoA), product description sheet and/or specification sheet. (In some cases is also the distributor/supplier)

Some contract manufacturers will disclose which vendor they are using for their ingredient materials, and some contract manufacturers may not. However, if a brand owner specifies the use of a certain raw material (either a branded ingredient or from a specific vendor), the contract manufacturer should be able honor that request and show the appropriate documentation (for example, provide a copy of the CoA for that particular ingredient).  If they are concerned about confidentiality, Vegan Action will sign an NDA for them in order to receive the confidential documents.

The entity that supplies products or goods from the manufacturer to the supplier, distributor or consumer. (In some cases it is also the ingredient manufacturer). We DO NOT accept No Animal Testing Documents from suppliers or distributors.

HOW TO KNOW? Ask about the supply chain to be sure you are getting documents from the manufacturer and not just the supplier/distributor (unless they are one in the same).

We require documentation on all additives and inputs in the product including finishing agents, clarifiers, and processing aids.

Many ingredients are composed of several sub ingredients to make the final ingredient. For example, vanilla extract is a combination of vanilla beans, alcohol, and water, these are the sub-ingredients. We require documentation for sub-ingredients.

In its broadest sense, a food additive is any substance added to food. Legally, the term refers to “any substance the intended use of which results or may reasonably be expected to result — directly or indirectly — in its becoming a component or otherwise affecting the characteristics of any food.” This definition includes any substance used in the production, processing, treatment, packaging, transportation or storage of food. The purpose of the legal definition, however, is to impose a premarket approval requirement. Therefore, this definition excludes ingredients whose use is generally recognized as safe (where government approval is not needed), those ingredients approved for use by FDA or the U.S. Department of Agriculture prior to the food additives provisions of law, and color additives and pesticides where other legal premarket approval requirements apply.

Direct food additives are those that are added to a food for a specific purpose in that food. For example, xanthan gum — used in salad dressings, chocolate milk, bakery fillings, puddings and other foods to add texture — is a direct additive. Most direct additives are identified on the ingredient label of foods.

Indirect food additives are those that become part of the food in trace amounts due to its packaging, storage or other handling. For instance, minute amounts of packaging substances may find their way into foods during storage. Food packaging manufacturers must prove to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that all materials coming in contact with food are safe before they are permitted for use in such a manner.  Vegan Action does not accept animal-based packaging that comes into contact with the final product.

A color additive is any dye, pigment, or substance which, when added or applied to a food, drug or cosmetic, or to the human body, is capable (alone or through reactions with other substances) of imparting color. The FDA is responsible for regulating all color additives to ensure that foods containing color additives are safe to eat, contain only approved ingredients and are accurately labeled.

In addition, colors and dyes are used in textiles and we do require documentation for these as well. 
“Natural colors can be pigments derived from natural sources such as vegetables, minerals, or animals.” This is why we require detailed information on colors.

Processing aids are substances or additives of natural or synthetic origin used in the production of processed foods, beverages, and supplements and which may end up in the finished product, but which are not, by law, required to be disclosed to the consumer as an ingredient. They may or may not be claimed on the product label however we DO require documentation on ALL processing aids that are directly used in the production of the final product whether they are claimed on the label or not.

Food glazing agents are food additives, also known as polishing agents, which when applied over food items, give a shiny, polished, and protective coating to foods, especially to fruits, bakery, and confectionery products. Food glazing agents are prepared from both natural (plant or animal) and artificial sources.

The products enhance characteristics such as coating ability, anti-sticking, binding, and film-forming could be animal/insect derived. These are not required by law to be disclosed to the consumer as an ingredient. For this reason, we DO require documentation on finishing agents, if applicable, on ingredients and final product (but not on raw materials or subingredients).

Clarifying agents are used to remove suspended solids from liquids by inducing flocculation. Several common clarifying agents are isinglass, egg whites, dairy, and chitin which are animal derived. We do require verification that clarifying agents or defoaming agents, if used, are not animal derived in beer, wine, vinegar, juices, and maple syrup that are main ingredients.

We require verification that the following sweeteners have NOT been filtered, fined, defoamed, or finished with animal products, by-products, or bone-char: allulose, aspartame, coconut sugar, erythritol, high-fructose corn syrup, brown rice syrup, maltitol, maple syrup, molasses, monk fruit, saccharin, sorbitol, stevia, sucralose, cane sugar, beet sugar,swerve sweetener, tagatose, xylitol, yacon syrup, malt syrup, and barley malt syrup.  If a sweetener is listed on the product label, we require documentation.

Some dairy products and supplements are produced by culture and may contain added enzymes and/or bacterial strains. We require verification that these have NOT been derived from, created with, or cultured on animal products or by-products.