Is Domino’s Pizza Dough Vegan and Cruelty Free? The Crusty Truth

May 2, 2023

Figuring out whether Domino’s pizza dough is safe for vegans to consume can be a bit tough.

Pizza doughs often contain many ingredients and some of them may be of animal origin.

To make sure that you are only eating food that aligns with your vegan diet and lifestyle, I’ve investigated the ingredients and production processes of Domino’s pizza dough.

Here’s what I found out.

Is Domino’s Pizza Dough Vegan?

No. Domino’s pizza dough is not vegan.

Domino’s Pizza is a popular pizza chain with stores in many countries around the world. The company offers a wide range of pizzas that many consumers love. Sadly, that can’t include vegans.

This pizza dough is not suitable for vegans because it contains whey, a milk derivative. It also contains refined sugar that may have been filtered using bone char, a black porous substance made from the bones of cattle, to make the sugar whiter.

So, if you are vegan, unfortunately, Domino’s pizza dough is a no-go.

Is Domino’s Pizza Dough Cruelty Free?

Yes! Domino’s is a cruelty-free brand.

Domino’s Pizza crust is not tested on animals at any point of its production, nor does it contain ingredients that have been tested on animals, such as artificial colors. 

Animal testing is an outdated and unethical practice that only leaves innocent animals disfigured, sick, or dead. So, it’s good to know that Domino’s Pizza is not involved in such activities.

What Is Domino’s Pizza Dough Made Of?

Here are the ingredients of Domino’s pizza dough, the Brooklyn Crust:

  • Enriched flour (wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid)
  • Water
  • Soybean oil
  • Sugar
  • Salt
  • Whey
  • Maltodextrin
  • Dextrose
  • Dough conditioners (sodium stearoyl lactylate, enzyme, ascorbic acid, l-cysteine monohydrochloride)
  • Yeast
  • Cornmeal (used in preparation)

Let’s break down each ingredient of Domino’s pizza dough:

Enriched flour (wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid)

Enriched flour is a powder-like substance made from the grinding of wheat. It contains gluten, which gives dough its elasticity and chewy texture. Enriched flour is a type of flour that has nutrients added to it. These nutrients include vitamins and minerals. The enrichment process fortifies the flour with these essential nutrients. Enriched flour is a vegan ingredient.

Water

Water is used as a binder in dough recipes. It hydrates the flour and gluten, giving the dough its structure. Water is a vegan ingredient.

Soybean oil

Soybean oil is used as a shortening in Domino’s pizza dough. Shortening makes the dough tender and flaky. Soybean oil is a vegan ingredient.

Sugar

Sugar is used as a sweetener in Domino’s pizza dough. It can be derived from sugar cane or sugar beets. Sugar may or may not be vegan depending on the filtration process used.

Salt

Salt is used as a flavor enhancer in Domino’s pizza dough. It also helps to control the fermentation of yeast. Salt is a vegan ingredient.

Whey

Whey is a milk derivative. It is used as a leavening agent in Domino’s pizza dough. Whey is not a vegan ingredient.

Maltodextrin

Maltodextrin is a type of carbohydrate that is derived from starches. It is used as a thickener in Domino’s pizza dough. Maltodextrin is a vegan ingredient.

Dextrose

Dextrose is a type of sugar derived from starch. It is used as a sweetener in Domino’s pizza dough. Dextrose is a vegan ingredient.

Dough conditioners (sodium stearoyl lactylate, enzyme, ascorbic acid, l-cysteine monohydrochloride)

Dough conditioners are used to improve the texture, flavor, and shelf life of dough. They can be derived from animal or plant sources.

L-cysteine monohydrochloride is not vegan. L-cysteine monohydrochloride is an amino acid that is derived from animal feathers or pig bristles. Domino’s, however, uses a microbial-based L-cysteine, which is vegan.

Sodium stearoyl lactylate is a type of dough conditioner. It is derived from plant or animal sources. Sodium stearoyl lactylate is a vegan ingredient.

Enzymes are proteins that catalyze chemical reactions in the body. Domino’s uses microbial enzymes, which are vegan.

Ascorbic acid is a type of vitamin C. It is used as a dough conditioner in Domino’s pizza dough. Ascorbic acid is a vegan ingredient.

Yeast

Yeast is a type of fungus that is used as a leavening agent in Domino’s pizza dough. It causes the dough to rise. Yeast is a vegan ingredient.

Cornmeal

Cornmeal is a type of flour that is made from corn. It is used as a dusting agent to prevent the dough from sticking. Cornmeal is a vegan ingredient.

Why Isn’t Domino’s Pizza Dough Vegan?

Domino’s pizza crusts are not vegan because the dough contains whey and refined sugar. Whey is a milk derivative, and refined sugar is often processed using animal bone char to make it white. Unless it is specified as “raw,” “organic,” or “unrefined,” sugar is not vegan.

Is Domino’s Hand-Made Pan Crust Vegan?

No. Domino’s Hand-Made Pan Crust contains refined sugar, whey, and natural butter flavor.

Domino’s Hand-Made Pan Crust is not safe for vegan consumption.

Is Domino’s Hand-Tossed Crust Vegan?

No. Domino’s Hand-Tossed Crust contains refined sugar and whey.

Domino’s Hand-Tossed Crust is not safe for vegan consumption.

Is Domino’s Thin Crust Vegan?

Yes! Domino’s Thin Crust does not contain whey or refined sugar.

Domino’s Thin Crust is safe for vegan consumption.

Is Domino’s Gluten-Free Crust Vegan?

Yes! Domino’s Gluten-Free Crust does not contain whey or refined sugar.

Domino’s Gluten-Free Crust is safe for vegan consumption.

Is Domino’s Honolulu Hawaiian Pizza Vegan?

No. Domino’s Honolulu Hawaiian Pizza is not vegan. It contains sugar, dairy products (cheese, milk, whey), and meat. Domino’s does not use vegan cheese or vegan meat.

Domino’s Honolulu Hawaiian Pizza is not safe for vegan consumption.

Is Domino Mediterranean Veggie Sandwich Vegan?

No. Domino’s Mediterranean Veggie Sandwich is not vegan. It contains milk, cheese, and butter-flavored oil.

Domino’s Mediterranean Veggie Sandwich is not safe for vegan consumption.

Are There Any Vegan Options at Domino Pizza?

Yes. However, such options are limited to pasta, toppings, salads, and sauces.

When you order a pasta dish online you can create your own and choose what to put in it. Here are some of the vegan options at Domino’s:

  • Plain penne pasta
  • Robust inspired tomato sauce (this is the only vegan sauce available for pasta and is different from Domino’s non-vegan tomato pizza sauce, so be mindful)
  • Fresh baby spinach
  • Banana peppers
  • Roasted red peppers
  • Diced tomatoes
  • Black olives
  • Green olives
  • Jalapeños peppers
  • Green peppers

With these options, you can choose what to put in your pasta. Sadly, Domino’s Pizza has limited vegan options that you can enjoy.

Vegan Alternatives to Domino’s Pizza Dough

Craving some pizza but want to make sure it’s vegan? There are many ready-made pizza crust brands on the market that you can try. Here are some of my favorites:

Or if you’re feeling adventurous, you could always make your own vegan pizza dough at home! Here’s a recipe to get you started:

These are just a few of the vegan-friendly alternatives to Domino’s pizza dough. So next time you’re in the mood for some pizza, you can rest assured that there are plenty of delicious vegan options available to you.

Final Words

So, there you have it! As you can see, most of Domino’s pizza dough is not vegan. They contain animal-derived ingredients that vegans avoid. However, there are many other delicious vegan pizza dough recipes available, so you don’t have to miss out on pizza altogether. Give one of these vegan options a try the next time you’re in the mood for a slice (or two)!