Is susu vegan?

The word susu is the Indonesian and Malay term for milk. It refers to the liquid naturally secreted by the mammary glands of mammals, most commonly domesticated dairy cattle, goats, or water buffaloes. In industrial food manufacturing, it is harvested from lactating animals and used in various forms, including fresh liquid, condensed milk, evaporated milk, and spray-dried whole or skim milk powder.

This term commonly appears on ingredient labels for foods produced or sold in Southeast Asia. Typical items containing susu include chocolates, baked goods, biscuits, confectionery, instant coffee and tea sachets, creamy seasoning blends, and packaged beverages.

Susu is not vegan because it is entirely derived from animals. Unless an ingredient specifically includes a plant-based qualifier, the standalone word susu always indicates conventional dairy milk, making any item that lists it unsuitable for a vegan diet.