Doritos are a popular brand of chips that come in many flavors. They are marketed as a fun snack food that everyone can enjoy. But what about people who want their food cruelty-free and vegan? Can you still enjoy Doritos if you follow a vegan diet?
Are Doritos Vegan?
No, most Doritos flavors are not vegan. The cheese alone disqualifies them, but there are also other animal-derived ingredients in these chips. Doritos contain whey, which is a milk protein. They also have casein, which is another milk protein. Finally, the chips contain L-cysteine, an amino acid that is often derived from chicken feathers.
The refined sugar in Doritos also disqualifies them from a vegan diet. While sugar itself is vegan, the way it’s processed often isn’t. Refined sugar is often whitened using bone char, which is made from ground-up cattle bones. So, even though sugar may not have any animal products in it, the process of making it often does.
So, if you’re looking for a vegan snack option, Doritos are not the way to go.
What Are Doritos Made Of?
Here’s the list of ingredients in Doritos:
- Corn
- Sugar (dextrose, lactose, maltodextrin)
- Dairies (Cheddar cheese, buttermilk, skim milk, Romano cheese, whey, whey protein concentrate)
- Natural and artificial flavors
- Artificial colors (Yellow 6, Yellow 5, And Red 40)
- Vegetable oil (sunflower, canola, corn)
- Salt, monosodium glutamate (MSG)
- Onion powder, tomato powder, garlic powder, red and green bell pepper powder
- Lactic acid, citric acid
- Disodium inosinate, disodium guanylate
Let’s break down each ingredient in Doritos:
Corn
Corn is the main ingredient in Doritos and is therefore what the chips are mostly made of. Corn is a vegan-friendly ingredient and is used in many vegan products.
Sugar
Sugar is often processed using bone char, which makes it non-vegan. Some sugar brands do not use bone char in their processing. However, PepsiCo, the company that owns Doritos, has stated that their sugar comes from many sources, some of which do use bone char, making it off limits for strict vegans.
Cheddar cheese, buttermilk, skim milk, Romano cheese, etc.
Anything dairy is not vegan because it comes from animals. This includes milk, cheese, and butter.
Cheddar cheese also contains rennet, which is an enzyme that is often derived from the stomachs of calves.
Romano cheese also contains animal ingredients, namely sheep’s milk, which makes it non-vegan.
Natural and artificial flavors
These ingredients can come from both animal and plant sources. Many companies do not disclose where their flavors come from, so they aren’t certifiably vegan.
Artificial colors (Yellow 6, Yellow 5, Red 40)
The artificial colors Yellow 6, Yellow 5, and Red 40 are all derived from petroleum products. However, they are often tested on animals so they are certainly not cruelty-free.
Vegetable oil (sunflower, canola, corn)
These oils are all vegan-friendly. Sunflower oil is made from the seeds of sunflowers. Canola oil is made from the crushed seeds of the canola plant. Corn oil is made from the kernels of corn. These oils are cruelty-free and are safe for vegan consumption.
Salt, monosodium glutamate
Salt and monosodium glutamate are vegan-friendly. These ingredients are not derived from animals and are both mineral compounds that are found on the earth. These are safe for vegan consumption.
Onion powder, tomato powder, garlic powder, red and green bell pepper powder
These ingredients are all vegan-friendly. They are made from vegetables and spices that are found in nature. Their processing does not involve any animal products or by-products, making them safe for vegan consumption.
Lactic acid
Lactic acid can be derived from both animal and plant sources. Many brands do not disclose where their lactic acid comes from, so it’s best to avoid products that contain this ingredient if you are vegan. It’s not safe for vegan consumption.
Citric acid
Citric acid is a vegan-friendly ingredient that is derived from citrus fruits. This ingredient does not involve any animal products or by-products in its processing and is safe for vegan consumption.
Disodium inosinate and disodium guanylate
These two are not safe for vegan consumption. Disodium inosinate and disodium guanylate are both flavor enhancers that are often used in food products.
Disodium inosinate is derived from animals and is often made from the meat of pigs or chickens.
Disodium guanylate is typically produced from mushrooms and plant sources. However, some can be from animals as well.
You’d want to stay away from these if you’re a vegan. It’s most likely that they’re not safe for vegan consumption.
Why Aren’t Doritos Vegan?
As we’ve seen, most Doritos are chock-full of animal ingredients and animal-derived ingredients. Dairy and milk ingredients, such as Cheddar cheese, buttermilk, and skim milk, make up a significant portion of Doritos. These ingredients are all strictly off-limits for vegans.
In addition, Doritos also contain sugar that is often processed using bone char to give it its white color. This bone char is derived from ground-up animal bones, which makes it non-vegan.
Additional non-vegan ingredients include natural and artificial flavorings, which can come from animal or plant sources. Most companies do not disclose the source of their flavors, so it’s impossible to say that they are cruelty-free and vegan.
The same goes for artificial colors. Red 40, Yellow 6, and Yellow 5 are all made from petroleum, but they are tested on rats, mice, and rabbits.
Finally, Doritos also contains lactic acid and disodium inosinate, both of which are derived from animals. Lactic acid is often made from the milk of cows, while disodium inosinate is typically sourced from the meat of pigs or chickens.
Are Nacho Cheese Doritos Vegan?
No. Nacho Cheese Doritos are definitely not vegan. In addition to Cheddar cheese, they also contain sugar, lactic acid, and disodium inosinate that are derived from animals. Nacho Cheese Doritos are not safe for vegan consumption.
Are Blaze Doritos Vegan?
No. Blaze Doritos are not vegan. Although they have no milk or dairy ingredients, they contain sugar, natural flavor, and artificial colors Yellows 6 and 5, as well as Red 40, which are all tested on animals. Blaze Doritos are not safe for vegan consumption.
Are Cool Ranch Doritos Vegan?
No. Cool Ranch Doritos are not vegan. Their main ingredients contain many milk products, such as buttermilk, milkfat, and sugar. Cool Ranch Doritos are not safe for vegan consumption.
Are Poppin Jalapeno Doritos Vegan?
No. Cool Ranch Doritos are not vegan. Their main ingredients contain dairy products such as buttermilk and skim milk. They also contain sugar, lactic acid, disodium inosinate, and artificial colors that are derived from animals. Poppin Jalapeno Doritos are not safe for vegan consumption.
Are Salsa Verde Doritos Vegan?
No. Salsa Verde Doritos are not vegan. The main ingredients in this flavor are dairy-based, such as Cheddar cheese, buttermilk, and skim milk. They also have a “natural chicken flavor,” which according to a Fritolay representative is “from chicken.” Salsa Verde Doritos are not safe for vegan consumption.
Are Blazin Buffalo Ranch Doritos Vegan?
No. Blazin Buffalo Ranch Doritos are not vegan. The main ingredients in this flavor are dairy and milk products like Cheddar cheese, buttermilk, and skim milk. They also have sugar and natural flavors that are derived from animal by-products. Blazin Buffalo Ranch Doritos are not safe for vegan consumption.
Are Spicy Sweet Chili Doritos Vegan?
Yes. Spicy Sweet Chili Doritos are vegan. PETA says so themselves. The only ingredients in this Doritos flavor are whole corn, vegetable oil, salt, monosodium glutamate, chili pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder. None of the ingredients in Spicy Sweet Chili Doritos are derived from animals.
Are Toasted Corn Tortilla Chips Doritos Vegan?
Yes. The Toasted Corn Tortilla Chips are vegan. The only ingredients in this Doritos flavor are corn, vegetable oil (canola, corn, and/or sunflower oil), and salt, all of which are vegan-friendly.
Which Doritos Are Vegan?
Of all the flavors of Doritos, only the Spicy Sweet Chili Doritos and the Toasted Corn Tortilla Chips are vegan. The ingredients of these two flavors do not contain any dairy, milk, sugar, artificial colors or flavors, lactic acid, or disodium inosinate and are safe for vegan consumption.
Which Doritos Are Not Vegan?
There are only two vegan Doritos flavors that are safe for vegans to consume: Spicy Sweet Chili Doritos and Toasted Corn Tortilla Chips. All other flavors of Doritos contain dairy, milk, sugar, artificial colors or flavors, lactic acid, or disodium inosinate and are definitely not vegan-friendly.
Final Words
All in all, it’s pretty clear that most Doritos flavors are not vegan-friendly. If you’re looking for a vegan snack to munch on, you’re better off looking elsewhere. However, if you don’t mind Spicy Sweet Chili Doritos or Toasted Corn Tortilla Chips, then go ahead and enjoy!