Figuring out whether BelVita is vegan can be a bit complicated.
Biscuits often contain many ingredients and some may be of animal origins.
To make sure you only buy and eat biscuits that align with your vegan diet and ethics, I’ve investigated the ingredients and production processes of BelVita Biscuits.
Here’s what I found.
Is BelVita Vegan?
No. BelVita is not vegan.
BelVita is known as an accidentally vegan product because it does not contain any animal-derived ingredients and is also not tested on animals.
However, BelVita Biscuits also contain ingredients that are controversial among vegans.
Sugar may be a naturally vegan ingredient, but it’s often processed with animal bone char.
Glycerin is also a common ingredient in BelVita Biscuits. Glycerin can be either plant or animal derived, but it is more commonly derived from animals.
There are also completely non-vegan flavors of BelVita that contain milk and honey.
So, while BelVita Biscuits are often touted as a vegan-friendly product, they are not actually vegan.
Is BelVita Cruelty Free?
BelVita Biscuits are not tested on animals, so they are considered cruelty free. The company that makes BelVita, Mondelez International, has a strict no-animal-testing policy in place. And that’s a good thing because no animals should have to suffer for our food.
However, it’s important to note that Mondelez International still uses animal-derived ingredients in some of its products.
BelVita itself has flavors that contain milk and honey. They also use natural flavors that may be tested on animals at some point in the supply chain, so it’s not entirely a cruelty-free brand. It may be an indirect use of animals, but it’s still something to be aware of.
What Is BelVita Made Of?
Here are the ingredients of BelVita:
- Whole grain blend (rolled oats, rye flakes)
- Enriched flour (wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamin mononitrate [vitamin B1], riboflavin [vitamin B2], folic acid)
- Sugar
- Whole grain wheat flour
- Canola oil
- Toasted dried coconut
- Malt syrup (from corn and barley)
- Invert sugar
- Baking soda
- Soy lecithin
- Disodium pyrophosphate
- Datem
- Salt
- Natural flavor
- Ferric orthophosphate (iron)
- Niacinamide
- Pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6)
- Riboflavin (vitamin B2)
- Thiamin mononitrate (Vitamin B1)
- May also contain the common allergens wheat and soy
Let’s break down each ingredient of BelVita:
Whole grain blend (rolled oats, rye flakes)
The whole grain blend is a mix of rolled oats and rye flakes. Rolled oats are oats that have been steamed and then rolled into flakes. Rye is a type of grain that is closely related to wheat.
Both of these ingredients are vegan.
Enriched flour
Enriched flour is a type of flour that has had nutrients added back into it. The nutrients that are added back into enriched flour are niacin, reduced iron, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, and folic acid.
All these might be synthetically produced, which means they are vegan.
Sugar
Sugar is a type of carbohydrate that comes from either sugar cane or sugar beets. It is often processed with bone char, which is made from the bones of cows or other animals.
The use of bone char in the processing of sugar is what makes it not vegan. And this is what is unclear about BelVita’s sugar. It is not clear if the sugar used has been processed with bone char or not.
Whole grain wheat flour
Whole grain wheat flour is made from whole wheat kernels that have been ground into flour. It is used in a variety of baked goods to give them a slightly nutty flavor. This ingredient is vegan.
Canola oil
Canola oil is a type of vegetable oil that is made from crushed canola seeds. It is often used in baking and frying, popular for its high smoke point. This ingredient is vegan.
Toasted dried coconut
Toasted dried coconut is simply coconut that has been toasted. It is used as a flavor and texture enhancer in many baked goods. This ingredient is vegan.
Malt syrup (from corn and barley)
Malt syrup is a type of sweetener that is made from corn or barley. It has a similar flavor to molasses and is often used in baking. This ingredient is vegan.
Invert sugar
Invert sugar is a type of sugar that is made from sucrose. It is used in a variety of foods to prevent crystallization and add sweetness. This ingredient is vegan.
Baking soda
Baking soda is a leavening agent that helps baked goods rise. It is often used in conjunction with baking powder. This ingredient is vegan.
Soy lecithin
Soy lecithin is a type of emulsifier made from soybeans. It is often used in baking to help ingredients mix together better. This ingredient is vegan.
Disodium pyrophosphate
Disodium pyrophosphate is a type of salt that is used as a leavening agent. It helps baked goods rise and gives them a fluffy texture. This ingredient is vegan.
Datem
Datem is a type of emulsifier that is made from dough conditioners. It helps to improve the texture of baked goods. This ingredient is vegan.
Salt
Salt is a type of mineral that is used to add flavor to food. It is also used as a preservative. This ingredient is vegan.
Natural flavor
Natural flavor can come from a variety of plant or animal sources. This means that it is not always vegan.
The use of natural flavors in BelVita is another ingredient that makes its vegan status questionable.
Ferric orthophosphate (iron)
Ferric orthophosphate is a type of salt that adds iron to food. It is often found in fortified foods. This ingredient is vegan.
Niacinamide
Niacinamide is a type of vitamin B that helps the body convert food into energy. It is often found in fortified foods. This ingredient is vegan.
Pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6)
Pyridoxine hydrochloride is a type of vitamin B that helps the body convert food into energy. It is often found in fortified foods. This ingredient is vegan.
Riboflavin (vitamin B2)
Riboflavin is a type of vitamin B that helps the body convert food into energy. It is often found in fortified foods. This ingredient is vegan.
Thiamin mononitrate (vitamin B1)
Thiamin mononitrate is a type of vitamin B that helps the body convert food into energy. It is often found in fortified foods. This ingredient is vegan.
Why Aren’t BelVita Biscuits Vegan?
As you can see from the ingredients list, there are a few potential animal-derived ingredients that could be present in BelVita Biscuits. Although at first glance it may seem like BelVita is vegan because it contains no dairy or eggs, there are a few other ingredients that could make it non-vegan.
Sugar tops the list. Sugar is often processed using bone char, which is derived from animal bones. This means sugar is not always vegan.
Natural flavors, which can come from a variety of sources, sometimes animal, could also make BelVita non-vegan. BelVita did not disclose where their natural flavors come from, so it’s impossible to know if they are vegan or not.
Is BelVita Soft Baked Protein Blueberry Almond Vegan?
No. BelVita Soft Baked Protein Blueberry Almond is not vegan. This product contains milk, which is a dairy-based ingredient.
This product is not vegan.
Is BelVita Soft Baked Banana Bread Vegan?
No. BelVita Soft Baked Banana Bread is not vegan, though it is dairy free. The product contains refined sugar and it’s better to be safe than sorry when it comes to sugar.
This product is not vegan friendly.
Are BelVita Bites Cinnamon Brown Sugar Vegan?
No. BelVita Bites Cinnamon Brown Sugar are not vegan. They contain sugar, which can be processed with bone char.
This product is not vegan friendly.
Is BelVita Crunchy Golden Oat Vegan?
No. BelVita Crunchy Golden Oat is not vegan. It contains sugar that may have been processed with bone char.
This product is not vegan friendly.
Are BelVita Sandwiches Vegan?
No. BelVita Sandwiches are not vegan because they contain sugar that may have been processed with animal bone char.
This product is not vegan friendly.
Vegan Alternatives to BelVita Biscuits
If you’re looking for a vegan alternative to BelVita Biscuits, there are plenty of options available. Some vegan-friendly alternatives include:
- Enjoy Life Crunchy Cookies
- Burton’s Rich Tea Biscuits
- Tesco Plain Chocolate Digestives
- Newman’s Own Newman-O’s, Chocolate Crème Filled Chocolate Cookies
- Trader Joe’s Soft Baked Snickerdoodles
Some of them are marketed as vegan, while others are not, but all of these biscuits are vegan friendly.
Final Words
BelVita may be touted as a healthy breakfast option, but it’s not vegan-friendly. It contains refined sugar that may or may not have been processed using bone char. Additionally, BelVita Biscuits contain natural flavors that could come from animal or plant sources.
If you’re looking for a vegan alternative to BelVita breakfast biscuits, there are plenty of options available on the market. Next time you’re at the store, be sure to check the labels before you buy!