Vega® Essentials

What are the sources of protein in Vega® Essentials?

Vega® Essentials is high in protein and the main sources of protein are from a multisource plant-based blend of pea, flaxseed and hemp protein.   

What is spirulina?

Spirulina is a unicellular organism that grows like algae. Spirulina contains protein, beta carotene, vitamin B12, essential fatty acids, and chlorophyll. 

What is bromelain?

Bromelain is a digestive enzyme, naturally present in and made from pineapple.

What is marine algae calcium?

One serving of Vega® Essentials contains 25% of your recommended intake or nutrient reference value for calcium from a whole food source: marine algae. Marine algae is a unique plant source calcium and mineral complex, made from a wild-harvested marine algae found in Barbados. A particular species of marine algae (Algas Calcareas) draws calcium and other minerals from sea water by attaching itself to pieces of seaweed and digesting the minerals from the water. As the tiny algae attaches to the seaweed and collects the minerals, it slowly grows in size, eventually growing to about the size of your hand. When fully-grown, the algae naturally washes up on the beach, where local residents collect it in small, sustainable batches. After being picked and cleaned on shore, the plant is minimally processed by being dried by the sun and ground within 48 hours.

Where does the salt in Vega® Essentials come from?

The majority of salt in Vega® Essentials is naturally occurring. Plants naturally absorb mineral content from the soil in which they are grown and this is then reflected in the final product. Pea protein is naturally higher in salt than some other protein powders. A very small amount of minimally processed sea salt is added, mostly for taste.   

Why do the instructions say mix with a plant-based drink? Can I mix it with milk?

We love plant-based drinks such as almond, hemp, coconut, or rice  (to name a few) mixed with Vega® Essentials, but if you only have milk in your fridge, go for it!  

Can I eat too much Vega® Essentials?

Even good things should be enjoyed in moderation and we suggest you take Vega® Essentials as part of a balanced diet. If you have questions about your specific nutrition needs, it’s best to talk to your doctor or health care practitioner.  

When is the best time to eat Vega® Essentials? Is Vega® Essentials a meal replacement or a protein shake?

Vega® Essentials is a food—so you can enjoy it anytime you would eat other foods you love—as part of your meal, as a snack or anywhere in between. Check the nutrition table to ensure that it has the nutritionals that you are looking for. Vega® Essentials is also a great way to eat more protein—it is high in protein derived from multiple sources, contains green and vegetable ingredients, it is high in vitamins and certain minerals, high in fibre, and high in ALA Omega-3s. Of course, even good things should be enjoyed in moderation and we suggest you take Vega® Essentials as part of a balanced diet. 

I’m allergic to nuts—are there any nuts in the natural flavours?

While Vega® Essentials does not contain any nut ingredients, it is not produced in a certified nut-free facility. For that reason we cannot make the claim that our nutritional shakes are nut free. Safety is paramount to us at Vega®, therefore all our facilities are third-party audited and follow GMP (Good Manufacturing Procedure) practices to ensure all allergen ingredients are stored away from non-allergen ingredients, and strict sanitation procedures are followed, to minimise any risk of cross-contamination.

Since every allergy is unique and has a different severity level, we recommend that you speak to your doctor or health care practitioner before using Vega® products.

Is Vega® Essentials organic?

This is a great question! At Vega® we source organic ingredients where possible. We believe in finding suppliers that have similar core values to us, with whom we can build long-lasting partnerships. These suppliers may provide us with organically grown raw materials free from herbicides and pesticides, but might not have their organic certification. Organic certification is an extensive process that can be cost prohibitive for some of these smaller scale farms. Sustainability and sustainably grown ingredients is something that is very important to Vega®.

Is Vega® Essentials non-GMO?

Yes, Vega® Essentials is verified non-GMO through the US-based “Non-GMO Project” which is also representative for the European context.   

Is Vega® Essentials gluten-free and vegan?

Yes, Vega® Essentials is gluten-free and suitable for vegetarians and vegans.

Vega® Essentials is tested to ensure every batch consistently results in less than 20ppm for gluten, which is recognised by the European Commission, Health Canada, US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the World Health Organization as the threshold for coeliac.

Vega® Essentials is vegan certified through the US-based organisation “Vegan Action” to verify that it is made without any animal-based products including dairy, eggs and honey.

Check the ingredient list to determine whether it will fit within your lifestyle.