Is Clamato Vegan and Cruelty Free? (April, 2024 Update)

Trying to work out if Clamato cocktail juice is vegan can be a bit difficult.

Cocktail juice often contains many ingredients and some of them may be animal products.

To ensure that you’re only eating foods and drinking cocktails that align with your vegan diet and lifestyle, I’ve investigated the ingredients and production processes of Clamato.

Here’s what I found out.

Is Clamato Vegan?

No. Clamato is not vegan.

Clamato is a cocktail juice or sauce, depending on how you use it, that is popular in Canada and Mexico. It is a brand of tomato-based juice that contains clam broth.

As the name suggests, clam broth is made by cooking clams in water. Clams are a type of shellfish, marine animals that are killed for their meat. This means that Clamato is not suitable for vegetarians or vegans.

However, there are some vegan alternatives to Clamato available on the market. So, if you’re looking for a clam-free drink, there are still plenty of options available to you.

Is Clamato Cruelty Free?

No. Clamato is also not cruelty free.

This tomato-and-clam juice is not tested on animals at any point of its production, but it does contain an artificial color, Red 40, that is routinely tested on animals to ensure its safety.

Animal testing is a gruesome and unnecessary practice that often leaves innocent animals disfigured, in pain, and often dead.

There are plenty of cruelty-free alternatives to artificial colors, so companies don’t really have an excuse to continue using them. Hopefully, in the future, Clamato will ditch Red 40 and become a cruelty-free product.

What Is Clamato Made Of?

Here are the ingredients of Clamato:

Water
Tomato concentrate
High fructose corn syrup
Monosodium glutamate
Salt
Citric acid
Spices
Onion and garlic powder
Ascorbic acid (to maintain color)
Dried clam broth
Vinegar
Natural flavors
Red 40
Red chili pepper

Let’s break down each ingredient of Clamato:

Water

Water is used as a solvent to dilute the other ingredients. It is vegan.

Tomato concentrate

Tomato concentrate is made by cooking tomatoes down to a thick syrup. It is then strained to remove the seeds and skin. It is used to add flavor and color to Clamato. Tomato concentrate is vegan.

High fructose corn syrup

High fructose corn syrup is a type of sugar that is made from corn. It is used to sweeten Clamato. It is vegan.

Monosodium glutamate

Monosodium glutamate is a flavor enhancer. It is a vegan ingredient.

Salt

Salt is used to season the drink and preserve it. Salt is vegan.

Citric acid

Citric acid is used as a preservative and to add tartness to the clam juice. It is a vegan ingredient.

Spices

Spices are used to add flavor to Clamato. The exact spices used are unclear, but they are most likely vegan.

Onion and garlic powder

Onion and garlic powder is used to add flavor to the drink. They are both vegan ingredients.

Ascorbic acid (to maintain color)

Ascorbic acid is a type of vitamin C. It is used to maintain the color of Clamato. Ascorbic acid is a vegan ingredient.

Dried clam broth

Dried clam broth is made by drying and then pulverizing clams. It is used to add flavor and color to Clamato. Dried clam broth is an animal product.

Vinegar

Vinegar is used to add acidity and flavor to Clamato. It is a vegan ingredient.

Natural flavors

Natural flavors are used to add flavor to Clamato. The exact ingredients used are unclear, so it’s best to assume it’s not vegan.

Red 40

Red 40 is an artificial color made from petroleum. It is used to give Clamato its pink color. Red 40 is vegan, but it is not cruelty free.

Red chili pepper

Red chili pepper is used to add flavor and heat to Clamato. It is a vegan ingredient.

Why Isn’t Clamato Vegan?

As you can see from the ingredients list, Clamato contains dried clam broth. Clam broth is an animal product. It is made by drying and then pulverizing clams. This ingredient makes it clear that Clamato is not suitable for vegetarians or vegans.

If you’re looking for a vegan alternative to Clamato, there are many products on the market that do not contain any animal ingredients or by-products and you can surely find one that suits your taste.