Image from www.veganissimo-a-z.com
This contest is now closed, and the lucky reader is… Greg A! Greg thinks this book would be especially helpful for cosmetics as their ingredients can be unclear.
Are you a Veganissimo? According to Reuben Proctor and Lars Thomsen, authors of Veganissimo A to Z: A Comprehensive Guide to Identifying and Avoiding Ingredients of Animal Origin in Everyday Products, a Veganissimo is “one who is vegan to the highest possible standard“, or “the most vegan“. I’m not sure I’m there yet, but it sounds like something great to aspire to!
If it sounds great to you too, this book can certainly help you get there. Small enough to fit in most purses, this handy little guide can accompany you on all your shopping trips and help you be more informed about what you’re buying.
Broken into 3 main sections: Ingredients, Product Labeling and Vegan Alternative to Animal Ingredients, the book uses easy-to-understand icons and verbiage, making it an easy read (although it’s not the sort of book you would just sit down and read, it’s more of a reference manual).
The Ingredients section was my favorite. The icons, broken down into ‘always/often’ or ‘sometimes/rarely’ include:
- Vegetable
- Animal
- Synthetic
- Mineral
- Microbiological
They also make the distinction between animal ingredients sourced from live or killed animals, in case that’s important to you.
The Labeling section was also very informative. As we all know, labels can be both confusing and misleading, and they’re often designed to be just that. Animal agribusiness and many producers profit from the ignorance of customers, and try to keep them in the dark. This book shines a helpful light!
Finally, the Vegan Alternative section gives some great ideas for those who are transitioning or just looking for more information.
I think this book would make a great gift for a vegan pal or someone who’s trying to educate themselves about what, exactly, is in the products they’re buying. I guess my only “complaint” (although it’s not really a complaint!) is that I’d love to see this book condensed into an App that I could just pull up on my iPhone while I’m at the store. For those of us with smartphones that might be an easier alternative. Just a thought!
And now for the GIVEAWAY! The fine folks at The Experiment Publishing want to send YOU a copy of this great book, too! Because the book is very US-specific in terms of products, names and legislation, we are limiting this to US readers only. The good news though is that they are planning to release a Canadian version at some point!
The Giveaway
One lucky reader, to be chosen randomly from the comments below, is going to win a copy of Veganissimo A to Z!
The contest is open until Midnight (Mountain time), Sunday 3/24. The winner will be chosen randomly and announced the following day. To Enter: All you gotta do is leave a comment below telling us how you’d use this book the most. At the grocery store? Shopping for vegan shoes? As a gift to a new vegan in your life?
Want more than one chance to win? Go ahead and do any or all of the following, and leave a separate comment for each, letting me know you did it. (Multiples grouped into one comment will only count once!)
Follow TWV? on TwitterTweet about the giveaway (make sure you tag me!)Like TWV? on FBLike Veganissimo on FBLike The Experiment Publishing on FBFollow The Experiment Publishing on Twitter
Good luck!!
*The Experiment Publishing provided me with free product to review, but the opinions are 100% mine!
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I would use this book for everyday life. Sounds fascinating and informative.
I’ve been looking for something like this, it would be wonderful to have a handy reference, instead of having to look up every little thing online. Hello Shopping Companion!
I am a new vegan and constantly learning more during this transitional process, especially when food shopping. I would take this with me every time I grocery shopped to ensure I am not buying something with a hidden animal product.
I liked TWV? on FB.
I liked Veganissimo on FB.
I’d use this book the most when shopping for ingredients while attending culinary school!
I would use this book most in the supplement/medication areas…it’s so confusing sometimes and there are times when I have absolutely no idea where certain ingredients are sourced….this would make shopping for those items easier for sure!
liked veganissimo on fb
I would use this all the time at the grocery store. It would also be something helpful for my Mom. She doesn’t know much about veganism. And always wants to get food I can eat at family get togethers.
liked the experiment publishing on fb
liked that was vegan on fb 🙂
I’ve been a strict vegetarian for three years (mostly vegetarian for 12), and I’m now trying to “take the leap” into veganism. I need more than recipes to help me out. This is perfect.
(I already like That Was Vegan? on Facebook! Thank you!)
I would use this book to expand my knowledge on veganism – an earth friendly lifestyle. From clothing to eats to ideas to trick my family into eating amazing vegan dishes! I have several friends on a similar journey and it would be great to have this source and be able to share new tips and facts with them as well.
Even though I’ve been vegan for years, I still sometimes get confused with ingredients on the labels of different products I’m buying. I’m sure I would use this book all the time!
I like That Was Vegan? on Facebook.
I like Veganissimo A to Z on Facebook.
I am a vegetarian, looking to convert to veganism. I know the obvious things to avoid like milk, eggs and gelatin. I do not know enough about what else to look for. Also, the alternative section would be helpful.
I’m another who has been vegan for years but feel there is still more to know and learn about. I know it would enhance my shopping experiences.
Thanks Barb and good luck to everyone who enters.
I’m interested in becoming vegan (I’m currently vegetarian). I think this book would be great to have when I go grocery shopping. 🙂
I’d probably use this book the most for supplements and personal care products. I feel like, being vegan for a year now, that I have food pretty well figured out.
I like That Was Vegan on Facebook.
I like Veganissimo on Facebook.
I like The Experiment Publishing on Facebook.
I think it would be useful for cosmetic products. I’m fairly familiar with food ingredients, but cosmetics can be confusing and unclear what’s vegan.
I would carry this when I go grocery shopping. I think I might also help my vegetarian friends move closer to vegan with it. I agree a nice app would be awesome!
I already had you ‘liked’ on FB — I just went and verified. Yep, you’re there!
I just followed your link to Veganissimo on FB and Liked them.
And I just went to The Experiment on FB and Liked them also. I can’t wait to see if I win this book!!!
Thanks for the opportunities!
I would read this book myself, and then give it to my parents, as they have had the hardest time adapting to my husband and I’s vegan ways, and I think the book would be a huge help to them!
This looks cool! I would use it at the grocery store to help with those extra tricky non-vegan ingredients. It would help when my phone reception cute out, and I just want to check an ingredient in bread or something. It’s usually the extra stuff in bread that throws me for a loop.
Sounds like a great read, Barb! Thanks for the contest. I followed Veganissimo on FB (already got you covered ;-))!
I’d use it to cook amazing dishes for my family to eat! (And me, of course! :)) Thanks!
Followed on Twitter!
Shared on Twitter!
Followed on Fb!
Followed on Twitter #2
Followed on FB #2
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Sounds like a must-have book to navigate through the confusion of food labels. That’s certainly what I’d use it for the most.
I actively look up new vegan info. I would probably use this book to educate myself more so which would help me educate others in turn.
Just followed on twitter
Wow! What a helpful idea! I would use it to educate myself before hitting the grocery store each week.
I would use this book whenever I go shopping for anything!
I have followed TWV on Twitter. =)
I have liked TWV on FB.
I have liked Veganissimo on FB.
I’m starting an online business and in person food cooking classes in Spain – I’d use this book as one of my go-to resources! I’ve been looking for up to date new information – this book looks incredible! Thanks for the opportunity!
I would use the book to look up questionable ingredients.
I Follow TWV? on Twitter (@mgonyeo)
I Like TWV? on FB!
I Like Veganissimo on FB!
I Follow The Experiment Publishing on Twitter (@mgonyeo)
I’ve just recently started eating vegetarian and would like to move to a vegan diet so this book would be such a big help in my transition. There is so much information out there, but it’s difficult to know where to start.
Thanks!
I like TWV? on Facebook :).
I like Veganissimo A to Z on Facebook.
I would use this a lot when shopping for beauty and cosmetic products. It’s a great idea, and I do hope they making an app. That would be so helpful!
I like you on FB!
I like Veganissimo on FB.
I follow TWV on twitter.
I tweeted about the giveaway.
I liked TWV on FB.
I liked Veganissimo on FB.
I liked The Experiment Publishing on FB
I follow The Experiment Publishing on Twitter
I would carry this when I go grocery shopping.
I’d love to give this to my brother who is an amazing cook and vegan-curious and a real info-junkie…he’d love it!
OMG, I totally posted about this today. I MUST HAVE THIS BOOK. My friend, Somer Vedge referred me over to your blog….WOW…PERFECT TIMING. Here is what I posted today:
“I had a breakdown moment at the grocery store today. First time my eyes filled with tears as I walked by the entire meat/dairy sections. Not only worries for others health and well-being, but for those poor animals. I cannot believe I NEVER questioned eating an animal until I became plant-based. I am not judging anyone who does, because I did it for 38 years. I am just posting MY emotions. I sat in my car and cried for a good 10 minutes, because I feel so helpless. I am not currently a “Vegan” in the sense that I still wear clothes or hav items that contain animals (not on purpose, just another thing I never paid attention to or thought twice about), among other things I am sure are not Vegan. I initially quit eating animals and animal products because of my health. I am very proud of the fact that I have been plant-based for 18 months, but it seems as though it has finally hit home with ME the OVERALL sadness that is taking place with these poor animals, in addition to our health. It is time I stepped up to the plate and start learning what is really happening to animals in addition to the ones on factory farms or ANY farms, and start learning what all “animals” are in everything else I am around.
Anyone have good resources, books, websites, etc…that I may utilize to start learning more about being even MORE compassionate to these beautiful animals. Thank you for reading my “rant’ and plea for guidance in this area. My heart truly hurts, and I want to learn more about what else I can do, in addition to leading by example by what I eat.”
With that being said, I hope I win this book, if not…I will definitely be getting it regardless. Thank you so much for sharing this with us!
I have been a vegetarian for 30 years, but I finally became vegan a few months ago and am loving it. I can’t get enough compassionate, fun, delicious, and healthy vegan information. Bring it!!!
I would probably throw this in my purse for help decoding labels at the grocery store.
I like you on FB
I follow you on TWitter
I like Veganissimo on FB
I like The Experiment on FB
I like The Experiment on Twitter
This book looks so useful! I would use it everywhere – food, bathroom stuffs, everything!
I liked TWV on fb
Liked Veganissimo on fb
Liked The Experiment Publishing on fb