Are Doritos Dinamita Vegan and Cruelty-Free? The Chili Truth

June 2, 2023

Figuring out whether Dinamita Chile Limon Doritos tortilla chips are vegan can be a bit tough.

Chip brands often mask their ingredients behind vague terms such as “natural flavors,” and even if they do provide a list of ingredients, it can be difficult to determine whether those ingredients are vegan or not.

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 Doritos Dinamita.

Here’s what I found out.

Are Doritos Dinamita Vegan?

No. Dinamita Chile Limon Doritos are not vegan.

Doritos Dinamita is a type of hot corn tortilla chips brand that is produced by PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay. This variety is popular among people who want a little bit more flavor and heat in their Doritos chips.

Unfortunately, vegans can’t enjoy this Doritos flavor of tortilla chips because it contains milk products, such as cheese, whey, and buttermilk. It also contains refined sugar, which is likely to have been filtered using animal bone char. Bone char is a type of charcoal that is made from the ground-up bones of animals.

Disodium inosinate is also present in Doritos Dinamita. While this ingredient can be sourced from tapioca, it is generally derived from animals.

All of these ingredients make it clear that Doritos Dinamita is not a vegan product. The good news is that there are plenty of other vegan-friendly chili tortilla chips out there that you can enjoy.

Is Doritos Dinamita Cruelty-Free?

No. Doritos Dinamita is not cruelty-free.

Doritos Dinamita tortilla chips are not tested on animals at any point of production. However, they contain artificial colors that are routinely tested on animals to ensure that they are safe for human consumption.

Animal testing is an inhumane and unnecessary practice that should be avoided at all costs. It only leaves innocent animals disfigured, sick, and often dead. Thankfully, many companies are starting to move away from this cruel practice and are finding alternative ways to test their products.

What Is Doritos Dinamita Made Of?

Here are the ingredients of Doritos Dinamita:

  • Corn
  • Vegetable oil (corn, sunflower, and/or canola oil)
  • Maltodextrin (made from corn)
  • Salt
  • Citric acid
  • Sugar
  • Monosodium glutamate
  • Artificial color (Red 40 lake, Yellow 6 lake)
  • Hydrolyzed corn gluten
  • Yeast extract
  • Sodium diacetate
  • Cheddar cheese (milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes)
  • Modified cornstarch
  • Natural flavor (including natural extractives of lime and natural extractives of red pepper)
  • Onion powder
  • Whey
  • Corn syrup solids
  • Garlic powder
  • Romano cheese (part skim milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes)
  • Buttermilk
  • Whey protein concentrate
  • Disodium inosinate
  • Disodium guanylate

Let’s break down each ingredient of Doritos Dinamita:

Corn

Corn is a type of cereal grain that is widely cultivated. It is the most highly cultivated crop in the Americas and is used in many food products such as tortillas, chips, cereals, and more. Corn is a vegan ingredient.

Vegetable oil (corn, sunflower, and/or canola oil)

Vegetable oils are derived from plants and are used in cooking and baking. Corn, sunflower, and canola oils are all vegan-friendly oils.

Maltodextrin (made from corn)

Maltodextrin is a type of carbohydrate that is made from starch. It is often used as a food additive because it has a sweet taste and can be used as a thickener. Maltodextrin is usually made from corn, but it can also be made from potato, rice, and wheat. Maltodextrin is a vegan ingredient.

Salt

Salt is a mineral that is composed of sodium and chloride. It is used to add flavor to food or to preserve food. Salt is a vegan ingredient.

Citric acid

Citric acid is a type of organic acid that is found in citrus fruits. It is often used as a food preservative or to add flavor. Citric acid is a vegan ingredient.

Sugar

Sugar is a type of carbohydrate that is made from sucrose. It is often used to sweeten food and can be derived from sugar cane or sugar beets. Refined sugar is technically vegan but is often filtered using animal bone char. Unless the sugar is labeled “raw,” “organic,” or “unrefined,” it is likely that it has been filtered with bone char.

Monosodium glutamate

Monosodium glutamate is a type of salt that is used to add flavor to food. It is often found in Chinese food and other savory dishes. Monosodium glutamate is a vegan ingredient.

Artificial color (Red 40 lake, Yellow 6 lake)

Red 40 lake and Yellow 6 lake are both synthetic dyes that are derived from petroleum. These liquid dyes are often used to add color to food. Artificial colors are vegan but not cruelty-free.

Hydrolyzed corn gluten

Hydrolyzed corn gluten is a type of protein that is made from corn gluten. It is often used as a food additive or flavor enhancer. Hydrolyzed corn gluten is vegan.

Yeast extract

Yeast extract is a type of flavoring that is made from yeast. It is often used in savory dishes to add flavor. Yeast extract is vegan.

Sodium diacetate

Sodium diacetate is a type of salt that is used as a flavor enhancer or preservative. It is a vegan ingredient.

Cheddar cheese (milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes)

Cheddar cheese is a type of cheese that is made from cow’s milk. It is a common ingredient in many dishes, such as macaroni and cheese. Cheddar cheese is not vegan.

Modified cornstarch

Modified cornstarch is a type of cornstarch that has been treated with chemicals to change its properties. It is often used as a food thickener. Modified cornstarch is vegan.

Natural flavor (including natural extractives of lime and natural extractives of red pepper)

Natural flavors are made from natural extracts that are used to add flavor to food. Natural flavors can be derived from fruits, vegetables, spices, and animals. The natural flavors in Doritos Dinamita are vegan.

Onion powder

Onion powder is a type of seasoning that is made from dried onions. It is often used to add flavor to food. Onion powder is a vegan ingredient.

Whey

Whey is a type of protein that is made from milk. It is a common ingredient in many dishes, such as cheese, milk, and yogurt. Whey is not vegan.

Corn syrup solids

Corn syrup solids are a type of carbohydrate that is made from corn syrup. They are often used to sweeten food and can be found in many processed foods. Corn syrup solids are vegan.

Garlic powder

Garlic powder is a type of seasoning that is made from dried garlic. It is often used to add flavor to food. Garlic powder is a vegan ingredient.

Romano cheese

Romano cheese is a type of cheese that is made from cow’s milk. It is a common ingredient in many dishes, such as pizza and pasta. Romano cheese is not vegan.

Buttermilk

Buttermilk is a type of milk that is made from cow’s milk. It is a common ingredient in many dishes, such as pancakes and biscuits. Buttermilk is not vegan.

Whey protein concentrate

Whey protein concentrate is a type of protein that is made from whey. It is often used as a dietary supplement or to add flavor to food. Whey protein concentrate is not vegan.

Disodium inosinate

Disodium inosinate is a type of salt that is used as a flavor enhancer. Though it is sometimes derived from tapioca, it is generally derived from animal sources. Disodium inosinate is not vegan unless it is specifically labeled as such.

Disodium guanylate

Disodium guanylate is a type of salt that is used as a flavor enhancer or preservative. It is commonly derived from seaweed or fermented tapioca starch. It is vegan.

Why Aren’t Doritos Dinamita Vegan?

Doritos tortilla chips are not vegan because they contain dairy products like cheddar cheese, whey, and buttermilk. These are ingredients that vegans actively avoid. There are also ingredients that may seem innocuous, such as refined sugar and disodium inosinate, but they can either be derived from animal sources or processed using animal products.

In fact, the three Doritos flavors that are frequently declared vegan, Spicy Sweet Chili, Blaze, and the Toasted Corn Tortilla Chips, are not actually vegan because they contain refined sugar that is almost certainly filtered with bone char. Until Doritos publicly says they don’t use sugar processed with bone char, vegans should avoid all Doritos flavors.

Are Spicy Nacho Doritos Vegan?

No. Spicy Nacho Doritos tortilla chips are not vegan. They contain whey, Romano cheese, buttermilk, skim milk, and refined sugar.

These chips are not safe for vegan consumption.

Are Doritos Dinamita Nacho Picoso Vegan?

No. Doritos Dinamita Nacho Picoso were not vegan. They contained whey, cheese, and buttermilk.

These tortilla chips were not safe for vegan consumption, but the good news is they’ve been discontinued anyway. Vegans can’t enjoy them, but neither can non-vegans.

Are Doritos Dinamita Fiery Habanero Vegan?

No. Doritos Dinamita Fiery Habanero were not vegan. They contained milk products, such as cheese, whey, and buttermilk.

These tortilla chips were not safe for vegan consumption. They’ve been discontinued, to the chagrin of fans who even made a petition on change.org for them to be brought back.

Are Cool Ranch Doritos Vegan?

No. Doritos Cool Ranch tortilla chips are not vegan. They contain whey, cheddar cheese, and buttermilk.

These tortilla chips are not safe for vegan consumption.

Are Spicy Sweet Chili Doritos Vegan?

No. Doritos Spicy Sweet Chili Tortillas are not vegan because they contain refined sugar.

These tortilla chips are not safe for vegan consumption.

Are Salsa Verde Doritos Vegan?

No. Doritos Salsa Verde tortilla chips are not vegan. They contain natural chicken flavor.

These chips are not suitable for vegan consumption.

Is Nacho Cheese Doritos Vegan?

No. Doritos Nacho Cheese tortilla chips are not vegan because they contain cheddar cheese, Romano cheese, whey, and skim milk.

These tortilla chips are not safe for vegan consumption.

Vegan Alternatives to Doritos Dinamita

Craving a hot and spicy snack but Doritos aren’t vegan? No problem! There are plenty of delicious vegan chip brands on the market. Here are some of my favorites:

These are some of the best vegan chips on the market. They are all delicious and free of animal products.

Final Words

There you have it! Doritos Dinamita are not vegan because they contain dairy products as well as refined sugar and disodium inosinate. However, there are plenty of delicious vegan chips to choose from. So don’t worry, you won’t have to miss out on spicy snacks just because you’re vegan. Enjoy!