DO YOU KNOW THIS...?: The other surprising drinks that AREN'T suitable for vegetarians revealed

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It used to be filtered with isinglass, or fish bladder, but big changes are afoot at Guinness.

The much loved 256-year-old Irish stout brand announced that it will no longer be using the fish product as part of its filtration process. This means that the drink will now be suitable for vegetarians and vegans, many who have been lobbying the brand for years to make changes.

From next year on-wards Guinness (left) will no longer be filtered with fish-derived isinglass (right). A Guinness spokesman said: 'While isinglass is a very effective means of clarification and has been used for many years, we expect to stop using it as the new filtration asset is introduced.'

The spokesman added: 'We are conscious that its use may represent a barrier to consumption of our products to some. As part of our ongoing efforts to further improve the way we make our products, we are seeking alternatives to isinglass.' Jimmy Pierce, spokesperson for The Vegan Society told FEMAIL: 'It's fantastic to see a world-renowned brewer listen to its consumers and tweak its methods. 'Using fish bladders in brewing is such an unnecessary archaic practice, so this is brilliant news, if a long time coming - 256 years!

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Vegetarians and vegans are advised to read labels before purchasing drinks as wines (left), such as Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc (right) , can be filtered using animal products

'It also makes clear commercial sense. Guinness are now opening up their market to a fast-growing number of vegans worldwide - numbers in the UK have roughly doubled in the past nine years.

'Guinness's sales will no doubt swell and we expect to see their peers follow suit and do away with isinglass as well.'

But while Guinness is heading down the vegetarian route, there are still a number of other products on sale which are unsuitable for vegetarians.

Some of them may contain animal-derived ingredients such as lanolin, gelatine and even fish oils, whilst others may still be filtered using isinglass.

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Carling (left) and Abbey Ale (right) are not suitable for vegetarians or vegans as they are filtered with isinglass

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All drinks from the Martini & Rosso (left) stable contains animal products. Tropicana Heart Healthy (left) orange juice is enhanced with Omega-3, often derived from fish oils

Beers from Abbey Ales, Carling and Adnams still use isinglass as part of their filtration process and the fish by-product also makes an appearance in Blackthorn cider, making these drinks unsuitable for non-meat eaters.

When it comes to wine, all drinks from New Zealand's famed Cloudy Bay vineyard are also unsuitable for vegetarians.

According to the company, the wines 'more or less all contain a fining product of piscatorial or domesticated fowl origin common to wine making practices'.

While the animal products are filtered out during the bottling process, it still does not make the wine suitable for those on a vegetarian or vegan diet.

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Kia Ora Orange Squash (left) and Lilt Pineapple and Grapefruit (right) contain fish gelatine

And vegetarians who like a Martini or a Manhattan may have to change their cocktail preferences as all vermouths from the Martini & Rosso stable contain 'trace amounts of animal by-products or ingredients.

For non-alcoholic drinks, watch out for anything labelled with 'heart healthy, such as Tropicana's orange juices as these drinks are often enhanced with Omega-3 fatty acids which come from fish oils. And Lilt, Lilt Zero, Kia Ora Orange Squash (no added sugar) and Schweppes Orange Squash, which all come from the Coca-Cola stable, contain fish gelatine, which is used as a stabilizer for their beta-carotene colour. FEMAIL has contacted Martini, Tropican, Coca-Cola, Adnams, Abbey Ale, Blackthorn, Carling and Cloudy Bay for comment.

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