Is Vegan Dairy Free? Usually, But These Products are Not!

Last Update in August 2025! I know what many of you are thinking. “Vegans don’t consume dairy, case closed!” But we’ve entered a new era of food engineering, which is blurring those once distinct lines. Most vegan food products are still dairy-free, but not all. In this post I’ll explain why, and we’ll keep a running list of vegan brands and products that aren’t dairy free, for your quick reference.

Is Vegan Dairy Free? Usually, But These Products are Not!

Vegan diets ban all animal-derived products, which typically includes meat, seafood, dairy, eggs, and bee products, like honey. Animal-derived is the key phrase here. Crafty food scientists have managed to create dairy proteins in the lab without the use of animals in any way. But how?

Milk Proteins without the Cow

Companies are utilizing a few different technologies, but they all involve genetically engineering a non-animal organism (like yeast or plants) to produce dairy proteins. They do so using the genome of a dairy cow, which has been fully mapped, and is readily available. So no animals, or derivatives of animals, are used to produce vegan “dairy.” Nonetheless, the proteins produced are molecularly identical to dairy proteins. This means they could still cause milk allergy reactions and have medical implications for people who have health issues or concerns with milk proteins.

Vegan Dairy is Not Non-GMO

Most of the brands listed below are heavily marketing the idea that the milk proteins are “made in a kitchen, not a lab.” It is true that the products do not contain genetically modified organisms, but they are created from genetically modified organisms. This is why they cannot be certified non-GMO. Last time I checked, microflora don’t naturally produce milk proteins. They might use a natural fermentation process in the production of the proteins, but they first have to genetically modify the microflora used to produce them.

Vegan Dairy Warning for Label Readers

Many argue that these genetically engineered, animal-free dairy products still state milk in the ingredients on the labels. This is true, and important. But what about situations where you don’t always see the label. There have been reports of restaurants, vegan and non-vegan, sourcing and using animal-free dairy to make vegan menu items. Sometimes it’s on purpose, and sometimes on accident. Because not all chefs and restaurant shoppers think to read the ingredients. Always ask before ordering, and be extra vigilant if any of the brands below are mentioned on a menu.

Vegan Brands & Products that are NOT Dairy Free

When I first posted about this new technological development, I honestly didn’t think it was going to be wildly successful. But investment money keeps pouring into engineered proteins, and new vegan dairy products are steadily popping up. I know – as if finding dairy-free products wasn’t frustrating enough! But I’ll do my best to keep you continuously informed with this guide. And you might be interested to know that these brands seem to be disappearing as quickly as they pop up!

In most cases, these vegan products are lactose-free (always check!). But they are not dairy-free, due to the use of engineered, “bio-identical” dairy proteins. They should always have milk clearly listed in the ingredients or contains statement. Nevertheless, the “animal-free” and “vegan” labels can confuse anyone. We’ve included a sample product or logo image with each brand, to help you spot them at a glance.

Creamilux – This is an ingredient, not a completed product, but could start popping up in products soon. It’s “animal-free” milk fat, produced with precision fermentation by Nourish Ingredients.

MYProtein – Their Whey Forward protein powder is made with Perfect Day’s genetically engineered whey. 

New Culture – This vegan cheesemaker began sprinkling distribution of their mozzarella shreds to pizzerias across the U.S. starting in 2023. This type of product is riskier for consumers since some restauranteurs just label it as vegan cheese on their menus without specifying it isn’t dairy-free.

Nobell Foods – This producer has received ample funding to recreate the unique genetic code of casein in soybean seeds, to grow plants that have the same dairy caseins found in animal milks. They had plans to hit the market with vegan dairy cheese by early 2023, but it hasn’t launched yet.

Perfect Day – This was the first company to hit the market with lab-created milk proteins. They genetically engineer yeast with DNA to make it produce casein and whey. So technically, the end product is not genetically modified, but it is produced by a genetically modified organism. They originally launched their own ice cream, but shifted gears to supply their proteins to other food manufacturers. They have also launched a vegan dairy milk with their whey proteins and they are working with companies to produce vegan dairy yogurt. So keep an eye out for the Perfect Day logo on vegan products.

Remilk – They haven’t hit the market yet, but are working hard in their Tel Aviv Israel lab to create milk and cheese products from genetically engineered casein proteins that are molecularly identical to cow’s milk casein proteins. They are using mRNA technology. Like Perfect Day’s process, the end product is not genetically modified, but it is created via a process of genetic engineering. They do plan to release products in North America, and their technology has been approved for use in Canada.

Strive FreeMilk – They produce high-protein milk made with animal-free whey protein. 

Those Vegan Cowboys – This Belgian company is focused on cheese, and uses precision fermentation to create real casein proteins. At the time of writing, they weren’t to market yet, and are seeking investors. So their virtual cows might not become a reality.

Vivici – This manufacturer is really focusing on the protein aspect of precision fermentation. They’re creating water that’s infused with animal free protein. They’re also marketing protein powder and protein bars for private label. You might not see their name on products in stores anytime soon but you might see other brands utilizing their proteins or products.

Discontinued Vegan Dairy Products

Several products have vanished since our initial post about the not-so perfect day vegan dairy emerged:

• Betterland Foods was making “cow-free” milk and Woo chocolate bars with Perfect Day, but the company seemingly disappeared overnight!
• Bold Cultr cream cheese was released by General Mills, but they soon defunded the line.
• Bored Cow made flavored animal-free milks that were even sold at Target, but they have been discontinued.
• Brave Robot ice cream and cake mixes by Perfect Day have been phased out.
• Breyers Perfect Day ice cream was launched in 2024 and then phased out within six months.
• Coolhaus was bought by The Urgent Company. The new owner promptly changed their dairy line to “animal-free” dairy, while keeping the dairy-free line. Now the brand has seemingly disappeared from shelves.
• California Performance Co. made protein powders, but they have been discontinued.
• CO2COA was released by the Mars company in 2022. But as of 2024, the company says it is coming soon. We are not sure if they permanently pulled it or if they are simply retooling the formula.
• Cowabunga milk was an animal-free venture between Nestle and Perfect Day. It seems it wasn’t successful enough.
• Graeter’s Perfect Indulgence was phased out in 2024.
• Ice Age made Hong Kong’s first animal-free dairy ice cream, but it was a short lived venture.
• Modern Kitchen was an animal-free cream cheese from The Urgent Company. It’s folded.
• Mooless by Natreve was a line of animal-free whey protein powders, but they are no longer produced.
• N!cks is still around, but their vegan animal-free ice cream line was discontinued.
• Nomoo had a more deceptive name, which might be why they’re no longer producing animal-free yogurt pouches for kids.
• Nurishh hasn’t discontinued their precision fermented cheese but they have remarketed it as lactose-free cheese.
• Perfect Day no longer produces their own line of ice cream.
• Real Vegan Cheese was a venture by Counter Culture Labs that didn’t pan out.
• Renegade Creamery was another cheesy endeavor by General Mills that was also defunded.
• Smitten Kitchen’s N’ice Cream was discontinued due to “supply issues.”

Despite this lengthy list, the precision fermentation market doesn’t appear to be letting up any time soon. In Illinois, the government granted $51 million in 2024 to a company that’s working on the technology. And the precision fermentation market is expected to be valued at $45.8 billion by 2031.

Please note that we are not passing any judgement about these foods, but simply reporting vegan dairy foods that consumers could easily mistake for dairy-free products. 

Related Reading for Dairy-Free Consumers

• What are “May Contain” Allergy Statements and What They Mean for You
• Non Dairy vs Dairy Free: Why One May Contain Milk
• When Vegan Isn’t Dairy-Free, a New Era of Engineered Food
• Vegan Dairy on Restaurant Menus? Why the Desserts Might Not be Safe

For More Dairy-Free Living Guidance, Get Go Dairy Free!