Are Bush's Baked Beans Vegan and Cruelty Free? (2024)

Finding out if Bush’s Baked Beans are vegan can be tough.

Processed beans can have a lot of hidden ingredients, some of which might not be vegan.

To make sure that you only eat foods that align with your vegan diet and ethics, I’ve examined the ingredients and production process of Bush’s Baked Beans.

Here’s what I found.

Are Bush’s Baked Beans Vegan?

No. Some of Bush’s Baked Beans are clearly not vegan, and some might be, though it’s impossible to say for sure because they have brown sugar and the ever-vague “natural flavors.”

The Original Baked Beans have bacon in them, the Honey Sweet has honey, and the Boston Recipe has pork sauce. The other varieties are almost certainly not vegan because they have either brown sugar or “natural flavors” in them.

Brown sugar is refined sugar that is mixed with molasses. Refined sugar is often filtered with bone char, which is made from ground-up animal bones.

So, unless the brown sugar in Bush’s Baked Beans is certified vegan or the company can guarantee that no bone char was used in the refining process, it’s not safe to assume that the brown sugar is vegan.

The same goes for the “natural flavors.”

Natural flavors can come from a variety of sources, including animals. Bush’s didn’t disclose the contents of their “natural flavors” because of “trade secrets,” so we can’t say for sure if they’re vegan or not.

Are Bush’s Baked Beans Cruelty-Free?

Yes! Bush’s Baked Beans are cruelty-free.

The products are not tested on animals and they don’t contain ingredients like artificial food colors, which are often tested on animals.

Animal testing is a cruel and inhumane practice that often leaves animals disfigured, injured, or dead.

I’m glad to see that Bush’s Baked Beans are not contributing to this injustice.

What Are Bush’s Original Baked Beans Made Of?

Here are the ingredients of Bush’s Original Baked Beans:

Prepared navy beans
Water
Brown sugar
Cured bacon
Salt
Mustard (water, vinegar, mustard seed, salt, paprika, turmeric)
Modified corn starch
Onion powder
Caramel color
Spice
Garlic powder
Natural flavor

Let’s break down each ingredient of Bush’s Baked Beans:

Prepared navy beans

Prepared navy beans are simply navy beans that have been cooked and are ready to be eaten. It is a vegan-friendly ingredient because navy beans are plant based.

Water

Water is used to help dissolve other ingredients and to add moisture. It is, of course, vegan.

Brown sugar

Brown sugar is refined sugar mixed with molasses. Refined sugar is often filtered with bone char, which makes it unsafe for vegan consumption.

Cured bacon

Cured bacon is made from pork and is not vegan. It is used to add flavor to the beans.

Salt

Salt is a vegan-friendly ingredient and is used to add flavor. It is also used to help preserve food.

Mustard (water, vinegar, mustard seed, salt, paprika, turmeric)

Mustard is a condiment made from mustard seeds, vinegar, water, and spices. It is vegan-friendly because it does not contain any animal products.

Modified cornstarch

Modified cornstarch is a food additive that is used to thicken or stabilize food. It is usually made from corn, but can also be made from potatoes or tapioca. Modified cornstarch is a vegan-friendly ingredient.

Onion powder

Onion powder is a seasoning made from dried and ground onions. It is vegan-friendly because it does not contain any animal products.

Caramel color

Caramel color is a food coloring made by heating carbohydrates. It is derived from plant-based ingredients, so it is considered vegan friendly.

Spice

Spice is a generic term for any dried, ground, or aromatic plant product that is used to flavor food. Spice is a vegan-friendly ingredient.

Garlic powder

Garlic powder is a seasoning made from dried and ground garlic. It is vegan friendly because it does not contain any animal products.

Natural flavor

Natural flavor is a term used to describe flavoring agents that are derived from plants, animals, or minerals. Natural flavors can be either vegan or non-vegan, depending on the source.

In Bush’s Baked Beans, the natural flavor is not disclosed, so it is unclear whether it is vegan friendly or not. Bush’s, however, did state that it is animal-free and free from the eight most common allergens.

Why Aren’t Bush’s Baked Beans Vegan?

Several varieties of Bush’s Baked Beans are clearly not vegan because they contain bacon, honey, or pork sauce.

Other varieties of Bush’s Baked Beans might seem to be vegan friendly if not for the presence of brown sugar and “natural flavors.”

Sugar and natural flavors can be either vegan or non-vegan, depending on the source. Bush’s Baked Beans are not vegan because they may contain refined sugar that was filtered with animal bone char and natural flavors whose origins aren’t disclosed.