Is corn truffle vegan?

Corn truffle is an edible fungus, scientifically known as Ustilago maydis and known as huitlacoche in Spanish, that infects and grows on ears of maize. It develops when fungal spores colonize corn kernels, causing the tissue to swell into large, blue-grey and black galls that possess an earthy, savory flavor profile.

Harvesters collect the fungus directly from the corn stalks, after which it is processed for commercial distribution. It is widely sold fresh, frozen, or canned in brine. On ingredient labels, corn truffle frequently appears in Mexican and Latin American specialty food items, such as jarred salsas, seasoned quesadilla fillings, frozen tamales, and culinary cooking bases.

Corn truffle is vegan because it is entirely fungal in origin and contains no animal derivatives. Like culinary mushrooms, it is a fungus rather than an animal product, and it grows entirely on a plant host. Because the cultivation, harvesting, and standard canning processes for corn truffle do not utilize animal tissues or processing aids, the ingredient is suitable for a vegan diet.