Hi strict veggie-head.
Your question is way more complex than it sounds. Not because eating veg is complex, but because what is acceptable to you as a "strict veggie-head" may be different from that of another veg. You mention animal testing, use of animal products, and things that are vegetarian friendly. These criteria point to different levels/genres/goals of vegetarianism, and I don't know which you're shooting for. Maybe I should start from your handle, "strict veggie-head", in which case I should assume that you want to consume nothing that has caused animals to suffer in any way. Is that a good assumption?
I'm certainly not going to be able to tell you where the Magic List of Things to Avoid can be found. Ask yourself what you will and won't accept as a matter of conscience, health, justice, etc. That's the start of your List.
I read the ingredients lists of everything I buy--that is, of the stuff that has a package and therefore an ingreds list. Mostly I buy fresh foods w/ no package and therefore no ingreds list. I learn from other people, from the published scientific literature, etc, what is animal-derived and what is not, and I refine my shopping list accordingly over time.
I've been at this for more than 25 yrs, so I don't have to do so much of that kind of weekly investigation anymore, but I still totally look at everything I buy, because there's no List That Makes It Easy so it's up to us to look at what we consume. Practice makes better, and more practice makes "more better".
If you're looking for sure-fire stuff for vegetarians, buy only organic fresh veggies and beans and grains, and do it pioneer style, even grow it all yourself. If you're going to buy something made by a food packaging company--or just made by someone else, even the Happy Wholesome Hippie down the street from you--you have to inquire how the stuff was made, where it came from, etc, if you want to satisfy yourself that it meets your criteria.
