As an example, Crownfield -Special- Flakes Red Fruit is a cereal sold by Lidl. The ingredients listed appear to be vegan and the box has a "vegetarian" label. Here's the simplified list:
Wholegrain wheat, ground rice, sugar, freeze dried fruit (strawberries, cherries, raspberries), brown invert sugar syrup, barley malt extract, salt, glucose syrup.
At first I thought this might be because it indicates that it "may contain milk", i.e. there's risk of potential cross-contamination in the factory. But then I found another Crownfield cereal box, Fruit & Fibre, which also has the "main contain milk" warning yet it has a vegan label. Which left me wondering: why do they consider one to be vegan and the other not? Or is it merely an oversight?
To be clear, this question is not about the "may contain milk" issue, which is unfortunately too common. But rather, I wish to know if the cereal contains animal derived ingredients or a manufacturing process that would make it definitely not plant-based.
On a related note, Aldi sells Harvest Morn Crisp Cereal Strawberry which is in the same situation, seemingly vegan ingredients, but labeled vegetarian and "may contain milk". But at least I was able to see it considered vegan by veganwomble. On the other hand, the Crownfield cereal in question has "vegan status unknown" on Open Food Facts.
I have not yet attempted to contact Lidl, but if someone else has already, or has reason to believe that Crownfield Flakes Red Fruit is vegan or not, I'd appreciate the information. Thank you.
P.S.: I am well aware of "accidentally vegan" products labelled as a "vegetarian" as there has been a gradual shift in manufacturers acknowledging and bothering to label products as vegan. I've recently become more careful in my assumptions after I learned that vitamin D3, which I've seen labeled vegetarian, is usually not vegan because it may come from sheep's wool.
I have not yet attempted to contact Lidl... why not? ... please do research before you post hereeat food, not processed food. Flakes all shapes & forms are processed.