Vegan Bouillon Instant Vegetable Stock Powder ORIGINAL — OKAY

Munch or Dump rates Vegan Bouillon Instant Vegetable Stock Powder ORIGINAL by marigold OKAY — score 60/90.

A salt-and-starch base carrying real herbs and spices, with no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. The catch: sea salt is the #1 ingredient and actual vegetables are only 7%, so it is a seasoning, not a vegetable.

Why this verdict

• No artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, or GMO ingredients
• Real herbs and spices do the flavoring (celery seed, turmeric, lovage, mace)
• Sea salt is the #1 ingredient, so sodium runs high
• Actual vegetables are only 7%, despite the 'vegetable stock' name
• Hydrolysed vegetable protein is a processed savory enhancer

Ingredients (13)

• Sea Salt (moderate) — Adds sodium to the canning brine; modest amount but worth rinsing to reduce.
• potato starch (moderate) — Another refined starch used to bulk the chicken.
• Hydrolysed vegetable protein (containing soya) (moderate) — A processed protein broken down for a savory, umami boost (a natural glutamate source). Not harmful, but it is the engineered-flavor part of the list and a soy allergen.
• Vegetable oil (sunflower, rapeseed) (moderate) — Refined seed oils used in tiny amounts as a flavor carrier. Minimal impact at this dose.
• Vegetables 7% (onion, parsnip, carrot, leek) (safe) — Real dried vegetables, but only 7% of the blend, so the 'vegetable' billing is generous.
• celery seed (safe) — Real spice adding savory depth. Celery is an allergen for some.
• parsley (safe) — Fresh herb, negligible downside.
• Turmeric (safe) — Natural spice used here mainly for color.
• white pepper (safe) — Ordinary spice, no concern.
• GARLIC (safe) — Whole garlic, flavor and minor health benefits.
• Mace (safe) — Real spice (nutmeg's outer layer). Clean.
• Lovage (safe) — A real celery-like herb. Clean, traditional seasoning.
• nutmeg (safe) — Real spice. Clean.