Is pepper vegan?

Pepper is an umbrella term used on food ingredient lists that typically refers to black, white, or green peppercorns from the Piper nigrum vine, or alternatively, chili and bell peppers belonging to the Capsicum genus. When referring to peppercorns, the berries are harvested from the flowering vine and subsequently dried, fermented, or ground. When referring to Capsicum varieties, the whole fruit is harvested and used fresh, dried, or powdered into spice. Pepper appears in a vast array of savory foods, including sauces, canned soups, prepared meals, snack seasonings, spice blends, and marinades.

pepper is vegan because all agricultural varieties designated by this name derive entirely from botanical sources. Neither Piper nigrum peppercorns nor Capsicum fruits require animal ingredients or animal-derived processing aids during cultivation, harvesting, drying, or industrial milling. As an exclusively plant-derived agricultural ingredient, pepper is suitable for vegans across all standard commercial forms.