Is Annie's Mac and Cheese Vegan? (April, 2024 Update)

Figuring out whether Annie’s Mac and Cheese is vegan can be a bit complicated.

Annie’s is a popular organic brand and many of their foods are vegan, but some of Annie’s products may be of concern to vegans.

To make sure you are only eating foods that align with your diet and ethics, I’ve investigated the ingredients in Annie’s Mac and Cheese.

Here’s what I found.

Table of Contents

Is Annie’s Mac and Cheese Vegan?

Most varieties of Annie’s organic pasta are not vegan. While the company does not use any artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives, they do use animal-derived ingredients in many of their mac and cheese products.

The primary non-vegan ingredient in Annie’s Organic Mac and Cheese is, of course, cheese. The company uses a variety of cheeses in their products, all of which are made from cow’s milk. In addition to cheese, Annie’s also uses whey (milk proteins) in their products.

According to their website, they have four different varieties of Annie’s Mac and Cheese:

Classic Mac & Cheese
Deluxe Mac & Cheese
Frozen Mac & Cheese
Microwavable Mac

Each of these varieties contains cheese and milk.

Annie’s Organic Vegan Mac and Cheese

However, Annie’s has released vegan versions of their Mac and Cheese.

The two flavors of Annie’s organic vegan mac are Deluxe Rich & Creamy Shells & Vegan Cheddar and Organic Vegan Cheddar Flavor Mac. The creamy cheddar-flavored sauce is made with a blend of plant-based vegan cheddar cheese alternatives and spices.

It is important to note that their two vegan flavors have wheat ingredients, an allergen. So, if you’re allergic to wheat or gluten, these two flavors—and probably others—are a no-go for you.

So, while Annie’s Mac and Cheese varieties are not vegan, they do have vegan varieties for those who are interested in trying them.

Is Annie’s Organic Mac and Cheese Cruelty Free?

Annie’s Mac & Cheese products are not tested on animals, so they are considered cruelty free. The company does not test any of its products or ingredients on animals at any point in the manufacturing process.

They also use regenerative agriculture to help reduce their carbon footprint. So, not only is Annie’s Mac and Cheese cruelty-free, but it’s also eco-friendly!

While most Annie’s Mac and Cheese varieties are not vegan, they are all cruelty free.

What Is Annie’s Organic Vegan Cheddar Mac and Cheese Made Of?

Here are the ingredients of Annie’s Organic Vegan Cheddar Mac and Cheese:

Organic pasta (organic wheat flour)

Vegan cheddar flavor seasoning:

Organic rice syrup solids
Organic palm oil
Sea salt
Organic corn starch
Organic pea protein
Organic natural flavor
Lactic acid
Sunflower lecithin
Organic annatto extract (for color)
Silicon dioxide (for anticaking)
Mixed tocopherols (vitamin E)
Organic rosemary extract (to protect flavor)

Let’s break down each ingredient of Annie’s Organic Vegan Cheddar Mac and Cheese:

Organic pasta (organic wheat flour)

Organic pasta is made from wheat flour that has been certified by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) as organic. This means that the wheat used to make the flour was grown without the use of synthetic pesticides or fertilizers.

It likely is vegan because it is wheat flour, however, some vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin D3, are added to the flour that may not be vegan. In this flavor, no vitamin D3 is added to the wheat flour.

Vegan cheddar flavor seasoning

The vegan cheddar flavor seasoning is a blend of organic ingredients, other additives, and natural flavors.

Organic rice syrup solids

Organic rice syrup solids are a type of sweetener made from rice. They are commonly used in food as a replacement for sugar or corn syrup. It is vegan because it is made from rice.

Organic palm oil

Organic palm oil is an edible vegetable oil that is extracted from the fruit of the African oil palm tree. It is commonly used in food as cooking oil or in the production of margarine and other spreads. It is a common ingredient in many cosmetics, soaps, and shampoos. Organic palm oil is vegan because it is made from plants.

Sea salt

Sea salt is a type of salt that is harvested from evaporated seawater. It is used as a seasoning or preservative in many foods. Most sea salt is vegan, but some brands may add iodine to their salt, which is not vegan. In this flavor, Annie’s uses sea salt that does not contain iodine.

Organic cornstarch

Organic cornstarch is a type of starch that is made from corn. It is commonly used as a thickening agent in food. Organic corn starch is vegan because it is made from corn.

Organic pea protein

Organic pea protein is a type of protein that is made from peas. It is commonly used as a dietary supplement or as an ingredient in the food. Organic pea protein is vegan because it is made from peas.

Organic natural flavor

Natural flavors are flavors that are derived from plants, animals, or minerals. In this flavor, the natural flavors are derived from plants. Organic natural flavors are vegan because they are made from plants.

Lactic acid

Lactic acid is a type of organic acid that is found in the natural fermentation of plants or is man-made using plants. It is commonly used as a preservative or flavoring agent in food. It is vegan because it is made from plants.

Sunflower lecithin

Sunflower lecithin is a type of fat that is found in sunflower seeds. It is commonly used as an emulsifier stabilizer in food. Sunflower lecithin is vegan because it is made from plants.

Organic annatto extract (for color)

Organic annatto extract is a type of extract that is made from the seeds of the achiote tree. It is used as a natural coloring agent in food. Organic annatto extract is vegan because it is made from plants.

Silicon dioxide (for anticaking)

Silicon dioxide is a type of anti-caking agent that is found in nature as sand or quartz. It is commonly used to prevent clumping in food. Silicon dioxide is vegan because it is found in nature.

Mixed tocopherols (vitamin E)

Mixed tocopherols are a type of vitamin E found naturally in plants. They are commonly used as an antioxidant in food. Mixed tocopherols are vegan because they are found in plants.

Organic rosemary extract to protect flavor

Organic rosemary extract is a type of extract that is made from the leaves of the rosemary plant. It is commonly used to protect flavor in food. Organic rosemary extract is vegan because it is made from plants.

Why Isn’t Annie’s Regular Mac and Cheese Vegan?

These creamy, dreamy bowls of Annie’s Mac and Cheese are not vegan because they contain several animal-derived ingredients. Milk, butter, cream, and cheddar cheese are all dairy products that come from cows and are actively avoided by vegans.

While there are some brands of mac and cheese that are completely vegan, Annie’s is not one of them.

If you’re looking for a vegan mac and cheese option and you can’t find one of Annie’s two vegan varieties, there are plenty of delicious recipes online that use plant-based ingredients. Annie’s Mac and Cheese might be delicious, but it’s not vegan.

Is Annie’s Deluxe Rich & Creamy Shells & Vegan Cheddar Vegan?

Yes. Annie’s Deluxe Rich & Creamy Shells & Vegan Cheddar is vegan because it contains no animal-derived ingredients. The cheddar cheese in this flavor is made from plants and the shells are made from wheat. This mac and cheese is also dairy free, making it a good option for those who are vegan and lactose-intolerant.

This product is safe for vegan consumption.

Is Annie’s Organic Vegan Cheddar Flavor Mac Vegan?

Yes. Annie’s Organic Vegan Cheddar Flavor Mac is vegan because it contains no animal-derived ingredients. The cheddar cheese in this flavor is made from plants and the shells are made from wheat. This mac and cheese is also dairy-free, making it a good option for those who are vegan and lactose-intolerant.

This product is safe for vegan consumption.

Is Annie’s Reduced Sodium Mac & Cheese Vegan?

No. Annie’s Reduced Sodium Mac & Cheese is not vegan. The same animal-derived ingredients are used in this flavor as the original Annie’s Mac and Cheese, only with reduced salt.