Trying to figure out whether Back to Nature Cookies are vegan can be a bit complicated.
Cookies often contain many ingredients and some may be of animal origins.
To make sure you only eat food that aligns with your vegan diet and ethics, I’ve investigated the ingredients and production processes of Back to Nature Cookies.
Here’s what I found.
Are Back to Nature Cookies Vegan?
No. Back to Nature cookies aren’t vegan friendly.
Back to Nature Cookies are marketed as plant-based snacks and they’re almost vegan, if not for one key ingredient: sugar.
Cane sugar is one of the main ingredients that Back to Nature uses that may not be vegan. Cane sugar is often processed with bone char. Bone char is a product made from the bones of cows. It is used to filter and process sugar to make it white.
Not all sugar is refined with bone char though, some are processed with charcoal which is vegan. Unfortunately, it’s not easy to tell which type of sugar was used in Back to Nature Cookies.
Vegan sugar would often say “organic,” “unrefined,” or “raw” on the package, but this is not the case for Back to Nature Cookies.
Back to Nature also does label their organic ingredients, so if the sugar was organic, they would have labeled it.
So, if you’re eating Back to Nature Cookies, chances are you’re consuming sugar that was processed with bone char.
Are Back to Nature Cookies Cruelty-Free?
Yes, Back to Nature Cookies are cruelty-free. The company does not test its products on animals. They also do not use any ingredients that are tested on animals, like artificial flavors or colors.
B&G Foods, the parent company of the Back to Nature brand, does not fund any animal testing. So, you can rest easy knowing that no animals were harmed in the making of these cookies.
What Are Back to Nature Cookies Made Of?
Here are some common ingredients of Back to Nature Cookies:
- Unbleached wheat flour
- Cane sugar
- Palm oil
- Safflower oil
- Cocoa powder (processed with alkali)
- Brown rice syrup
- Leavening (baking soda, ammonium bicarbonate)
- Sea salt
- Soy lecithin
- Natural flavor
- Cocoa butter
- Unsweetened chocolate
- Vanilla extract
Let’s break down each ingredient of Back to Nature Cookies:
Unbleached wheat flour
Unbleached wheat flour is a type of wheat flour that has not been chemically treated. It is made from whole wheat grains that have been milled (ground). It is a vegan-friendly product.
Cane sugar
Cane sugar is a type of sugar made from the juice of sugar cane plants. It is used as a sweetener in many foods and drinks.
Cane sugar is naturally a vegan ingredient. However, it is often processed with bone char to make it white.
Palm oil
Palm oil is a type of vegetable oil that is extracted from the fruit of palm trees. It is a vegan-friendly ingredient. However, some vegans avoid palm oil because of the negative environmental impact that palm oil plantations have on rainforests and animals.
Sustainable palm oil is a more eco-friendly alternative to ordinary palm oil, and may be more palatable to those practicing a vegan lifestyle. In Back to Nature’s case, it is not disclosed if the palm oil used is sourced sustainably, so there is no way to know for sure.
Safflower oil
Safflower oil is a type of vegetable oil that is extracted from the seeds of the safflower plant. It is used as a cooking oil and in some cosmetics. It is vegan.
Cocoa powder (processed with alkali)
Cocoa powder is a type of powdered chocolate that is made from the beans of the cocoa tree. It is used as a flavoring or coloring agent in many foods and drinks.
The alkali used to process cocoa powder is usually potassium carbonate or sodium carbonate. These are vegan-friendly products.
Brown rice syrup
Brown rice syrup is a type of sweetener made from brown rice. It is used as a replacement for sugar in many foods and drinks. It is vegan.
Leavening (baking soda, ammonium bicarbonate)
Leavening is a type of ingredient that is used to make the dough rise. It is usually made from baking soda or ammonium bicarbonate.
Baking soda
Baking soda is a type of leavening agent. It is a vegan-friendly ingredient.
Ammonium bicarbonate
Ammonium bicarbonate is a type of salt that is used as a leavening agent. It is a vegan-friendly ingredient.
Sea salt
Sea salt is a type of salt that is made from evaporated seawater. It is used as a seasoning or preservative. It is vegan.
Soy lecithin
Soy lecithin is a type of emulsifier that is made from soybeans. It is used to keep oil and water from separating food products. It is a vegan-friendly ingredient.
Natural flavor
Natural flavors are usually made from plants or animals. In the case of Back to Nature Cookies, it is not disclosed what the natural flavor is made from, but since the product is marketed as plant based, it is safe to assume that the natural flavor is plant based as well.
Why Aren’t Back to Nature Cookies Vegan?
These plant-based snacks may seem really vegan, but there’s one big non-vegan ingredient in many of their cookies: cane sugar.
Most cane sugar is processed with bone char, making it non-vegan. Back to Nature labels its organic ingredients in the packaging of its products, but the sugar used in its cookies is not specified, so it’s likely that bone char was used in the processing.
If you are looking for a 100% vegan cookie, Back to Nature may not be the right choice. However, there are many other delicious vegan cookies on the market that you can enjoy guilt-free!
Are Back to Nature Classic Creme Cookies Vegan?
No. Back to Nature Classic Creme Cookies are not safe for vegans. This product contains cane sugar that is probably processed with animal bone char.
This product is not vegan.
Are Back to Nature Peanut Butter Creme Cookies Vegan?
No. Back to Nature Peanut Butter Creme Cookies are not vegan. This product contains cane sugar that is probably processed with animal bone char.
This product is not vegan.
Are Back to Nature Fudge Mint Cookies Vegan?
No. Back to Nature Fudge Mint Cookies are not vegan. This product contains sugar that is probably processed with animal bone char.
This product is not vegan.
Are Homestyle Soft Baked Chocolate Chunk Cookies Vegan?
No. Back to Nature Homestyle Soft Baked Chocolate Chunk Cookies are not vegan. This product contains sugar that is probably processed with animal bone char.
This product is not vegan.
Are Back to Nature Lemon Wafer Cookies Vegan?
No. Back to Nature Lemon Wafer Cookies are not vegan. This product contains cane sugar that is probably processed with animal bone char.
This product is not vegan.
Vegan Alternatives to Back to Nature Cookies
If you’re in the mood for some delicious cookies but want to make sure that you’re not contributing to animal cruelty, there are plenty of vegan-friendly options on the market. Here are some of my favorites:
- Made Good Snickerdoodle Cookies
- Partake Crunchy Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Enjoy Life Crunchy Cookies
- Alyssa’s Healthy Vegan Bites
- Lenny & Larry’s Chocolate Chip
These delicious vegan-friendly cookies are a great alternative to Back to Nature Cookies. You can enjoy these cookies guilt-free, knowing that they are vegan and delicious!
Final Words
Back to Nature Cookies are plant-based cookies that are almost vegan except for the sugar. Back to Nature clearly labels its organic ingredients, so the fact that they did not label the cane sugar as “organic” suggests that it was processed with bone char.
If you’re looking for a vegan cookie, you’re probably better off looking elsewhere. The vegan alternative cookies I’ve listed above are all vegan friendly and delicious! You can enjoy them knowing that you’re not contributing to animal cruelty.