Is Cap’n Crunch Vegan and Cruelty Free? The Crunchy Truth

May 4, 2023

Trying to figure out if Cap’n Crunch is safe for vegans to consume can be challenging.

Cereals often contain many ingredients, some of which may be of animal origin.

To ensure that you’re only consuming food that aligns with your vegan lifestyle and diet, I’ve looked into the ingredients and production processes of Cap’n Crunch.

Here’s what I found.

Is Cap’n Crunch Vegan?

Unfortunately, no. Cap’n Crunch is not vegan.

Cap’n Crunch contains refined sugar that is very likely processed with bone char. Bone char is a charcoal-like substance made from the ground-up bones of animals. It is commonly used to filter the sugar and make it white.

Unless the sugar is explicitly labeled as “organic,” “raw,” or “unrefined,” it is likely that it has been processed with bone char.

So, if you’re a vegan, you may want to avoid Cap’n Crunch.

Is Cap’n Crunch Cruelty Free?

No. Cap’n Crunch is not cruelty free.

Quaker Oats Company, the manufacturer of Cap’n Crunch, does not test their products on animals nor do they commission others to test on their behalf.

However, if you look closely at the Cap’n Crunch cereal ingredients, you’ll see that artificial colors are included in the list.

The most common artificial colors, FD&C Yellow No. 5 and 6, are often tested on animals to ensure they are safe for human consumption.

Animal testing is a gruesome and unnecessary practice that often leaves innocent animals disfigured, maimed, or dead.

There are natural alternatives to artificial colors that don’t involve animal testing, so there is no reason for Quaker Oats to continue using them.

If you’re looking for a cruelty-free cereal option, look elsewhere.

What Is Cap’n Crunch Made Of?

Here are the ingredients of Cap’n Crunch:

  • Corn flour
  • Sugar
  • Oat flour
  • Brown sugar
  • Palm oil
  • Coconut oil
  • Salt
  • Reduced iron
  • Yellow 5
  • Niacinamide
  • Yellow 6
  • BHT (to preserve freshness)
  • Thiamin mononitrate
  • Pyridoxine hydrochloride
  • Riboflavin
  • Folic acid

Let’s break down each ingredient of Cap’n Crunch:

Corn flour

Corn flour is used as a thickener and binding agent in food. It’s made from finely ground cornmeal and it’s a common ingredient in cereals. It’s a vegan-friendly ingredient.

Sugar

Sugar is a sweetener made from the sucrose of sugarcane or sugar beet. Cane sugar is often processed with bone char to make it white. It is not vegan if it is processed with bone char.

Oat flour

Oat flour is made from finely ground oats. It’s a vegan-friendly ingredient.

Brown sugar

Brown sugar is made from sugarcane or sugar beet that has been processed with molasses. It’s not vegan if it is processed with bone char.

Palm oil

Palm oil is a type of vegetable oil that is extracted from the fruit of palm trees. It is used for frying and baking. It’s a vegan-friendly ingredient.

Coconut oil

Coconut oil is a type of vegetable oil that is extracted from the meat of coconuts. It is used for frying and baking. It’s a vegan-friendly ingredient.

Salt

Salt is a mineral composed of sodium and chloride. It is used for flavor and as a preservative. It’s a vegan-friendly ingredient.

Reduced iron

Reduced iron is a type of iron that has been processed to make it easier for the body to absorb. It is used as a dietary supplement. It’s a vegan-friendly ingredient.

Yellow 5

Yellow 5 is a type of food coloring that is made from coal tar. However, Yellow 5 is still being tested on animals to confirm its safety. Artificial colors are not vegan friendly.

Niacinamide

Niacinamide is a type of vitamin B that is found in food. It’s a vegan-friendly ingredient.

Yellow 6

Yellow 6 is used for food coloring and is made synthetically from petroleum. Yellow 6 is still being tested on animals to confirm its safety. It’s not a vegan-friendly ingredient.

BHT

BHT is a preservative that is used to keep food fresh. It’s a vegan-friendly ingredient.

Thiamin mononitrate

Known as Vitamin B1, thiamin mononitrate is a type of vitamin B that is found in food. It’s a vegan-friendly ingredient.

Pyridoxine hydrochloride

Pyridoxine hydrochloride is a type of vitamin B that is found in food. It is known as Vitamin B6. It’s a vegan-friendly ingredient.

Riboflavin

Riboflavin is a type of vitamin B that is found in food. It is known as Vitamin B2. It’s a vegan-friendly ingredient.

Folic acid

Folic acid is a type of vitamin B that is found in food. It is known as Vitamin B9. It’s a vegan-friendly ingredient.

Why Isn’t Cap’n Crunch Vegan?

Cap’n Crunch isn’t vegan because it contains refined sugar. Sugar is plant based, but it is often processed with bone char to make it white. Bone char is made from the ground-up bones of cows and it is not vegan. Unless the product specifies that it is using “raw,” “unrefined,” or “organic” sugar, I simply cannot say that it is suitable for vegan consumption.

Is Cap’n Crunch’s Crunch Berries Vegan?

No. Cap’n Crunch’s Crunch Berries cereal contains refined sugar processed with bone char.

This cereal is not a vegan-friendly product.

Is Cap’n Crunch’s Peanut Butter Crunch Vegan?

No. Cap’n Crunch’s Peanut Butter Crunch is not vegan because it contains refined sugar.

This cereal is not safe for vegan consumption.

Is Cap’n Crunch’s OOPS! All Berries Vegan?

No. Cap’n Crunch’s OOPS! All Berries cereal is not vegan because it contains sugar.

This breakfast cereal is not safe for vegan consumption.

Is Cap’n Crunch’s Chocolate Caramel Crunch Vegan?

No. Cap’n Crunch’s Chocolate Caramel Crunch contains refined sugar.

This breakfast cereal is not a vegan-friendly product.

Are Cap’n Crunch’s Chocolatey Churro Bites Vegan?

No. Cap’n Crunch’s Chocolatey Churro Bites are not vegan because they contain sugar.

This product is not safe for vegans to consume.

Vegan Alternatives to Cap’n Crunch

If you’re craving a crunchy cereal, there are plenty of vegan-friendly options. Here are some of my favorites:

These cereals are all vegan and they’re also free of refined sugar. The Seven Sundays Sunflower Cereal, Fiber One Original Bran Breakfast Cereal, and Cascadian Farm Organic are my go-to cereals and I highly recommend them.

Final Words

So there you have it! If you’ve ever wondered “Is Captain Crunch vegan?” then first of all, it’s “Cap’n Crunch.” Second, now you know the answer. Unfortunately, this cereal brand is not suitable for vegan consumption because of its sugar content. 

There are, however, plenty of great vegan alternatives to Cap’n Crunch. I’ve listed several above so be sure to check them out! But as always, read the ingredients list to make sure the product is, in fact, vegan before you buy it.