Why It's Confusing
Miso is made from fermented soybeans and is vegan. Menus frequently list miso soup as a vegetable appetiser, which obscures the fish-based broth underneath.
Vegan diners often assume miso soup is a safe default and discover the dashi component only after ordering. Instant sachets carry the same issue under "natural flavour" labels.
Where It Commonly Appears
- Japanese restaurants worldwide
- Japanese-inspired cafés, canteens, and noodle shops
- Airline meal trays
- Hotel breakfast buffets in Japan and across Asia
- Instant miso soup sachets on supermarket shelves
- Japanese grocery store ready meals
What To Watch For
- Dashi, bonito flakes (katsuobushi), niboshi (dried sardines)
- Fish extract, fish powder
- "Natural flavour" on instant sachets
- Ask whether the broth is kombu-based or fish-based
Vegan Alternatives
- Miso soup made with kombu dashi (seaweed base) or shiitake dashi
- Instant vegan brands: Clearspring [[3]](#source-3), Marukome Organic Kombu Dashi Miso (selected lines), Hikari Miso (check specific product)
- Some Japanese restaurants keep a separate vegan dashi available on request
Sources
1. The Vegan Society, Definition of veganism. https://www.vegansociety.com/go-vegan/definition-veganism 2. Ajinomoto, Hondashi product information (bonito-based dashi). https://www.ajinomoto.com/products/hondashi 3. Clearspring, Organic Instant Miso Soup product page. https://www.clearspring.co.uk/collections/instant-miso-soup