Trying to find out if Dr Pepper is vegan can be a tricky task.
The soda brand Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. has a variety of products and flavors, and each product has a different recipe. So, while some Dr Pepper products are vegan, others are not.
To ensure that you’re only eating food and drinking vegan soda that aligns with your diet and lifestyle, I’ve investigated the ingredients and production processes of Dr Pepper.
Here’s what I found.
Is Dr Pepper Vegan?
Yes! Dr Pepper is a vegan brand.
Dr Pepper is a carbonated soft drink that was first introduced in 1885. The soda is made with a blend of 23 different flavors, including cherry, vanilla, licorice, and amaretto.
All these flavors, except Dr Pepper Made with Real Sugar, are vegan.
The only non-vegan ingredient in Dr Pepper is cane sugar, which is used to sweeten the Made with Real Sugar variety.
Refined cane sugar is not vegan because it is often processed with animal bone char. Bone char is a type of charcoal that is made from the bones of cows, pigs, and other animals. It is used to remove impurities from sugar and give it a white color.
Unless the sugar is explicitly labeled as “organic,” “raw,” or “unrefined,” it’s likely that it was processed with bone char.
So, while some Dr Pepper products are vegan, the Made with Real Sugar variety is not because it contains cane sugar that was likely processed with bone char.
Is Dr Pepper Cruelty Free?
No. Dr Pepper is not 100% cruelty-free.
Dr Pepper does not test its products on animals at any point during production, but some flavors, like its Cherry Flavors variety, do contain Red 40, an ingredient that is routinely tested on animals to determine if it is safe for human consumption.
Animal testing is a cruel and outdated practice that often results in the deformity, suffering, or death of innocent animals. There are many ways to test products without using animals, so there is no excuse for companies to continue this callous practice.
Dr Pepper, thankfully, does not condone such inhumane animal treatment and is working to put an end to animal testing by finding alternative methods of testing their products. Still, they should look at all their ingredients too.
What Is Dr Pepper Made Of?
Here are the ingredients of Dr Pepper:
- Carbonated water
- High fructose corn syrup
- Caramel color
- Phosphoric acid
- Natural and artificial flavors
- Sodium benzoate
- Caffeine
Let’s break down each of Dr Pepper’s ingredients:
Carbonated water
Carbonated water is water that has been infused with carbon dioxide gas under pressure. It is used in many sodas and soft drinks to add effervescence. Carbonated water is vegan.
High fructose corn syrup
High fructose corn syrup is a type of corn syrup that has been treated with enzymes to convert some of its glucose into fructose. It is used as a sweetener in many processed foods and beverages. High fructose corn syrup is vegan.
Caramel color
Caramel is a food coloring made by heating carbohydrates, such as corn syrup or cane sugar. It is used to add color to foods and beverages. The caramel color is vegan.
Phosphoric acid
Phosphoric acid is an acidic compound that is used to add tartness to foods and beverages. It is sometimes used as a rust inhibitor. Phosphoric acid is vegan.
Natural and artificial flavors
Natural flavors are extracts of plants or animals that are used to add flavor to food. Artificial flavors are chemicals that are made to mimic the taste of natural flavors. Natural and artificial flavors are vegan.
Sodium benzoate
Sodium benzoate is a food preservative that is used to prevent the growth of mold and bacteria. Sodium benzoate is vegan.
Caffeine
Caffeine is a psychoactive compound that is found in coffee, tea, and some sodas. It is used to add a caffeinated kick to beverages. Caffeine is vegan.
Why Is Dr Pepper Vegan?
Dr Pepper is vegan because all except one of its flavors are made with synthetic or plant-based ingredients. The only non-vegan ingredient in Dr Pepper is cane sugar, which is used to sweeten the Made with Real Sugar variety. All other flavors of Dr Pepper are sweetened with either high fructose corn syrup or artificial sweeteners, both of which are vegan.
Is Dr Pepper Zero Sugar Vegan?
Yes! Dr Pepper Zero Sugar is vegan because it contains no animal-derived ingredients or by-products.
This zero-sugar soda is suitable for vegans.
Is Diet Dr Pepper Vegan?
Yes! Diet Dr Pepper is vegan because it does not contain any animal-derived ingredients or by-products.
This diet soda is suitable for vegans.
Is Caffeine Free Dr Pepper Vegan?
Yes! Caffeine-Free Dr Pepper is vegan because it contains no animal-derived ingredients or by-products.
This caffeine-free soda is suitable for vegans.
Is Dr Pepper Cherry Vegan?
Yes! Dr Pepper Cherry is vegan because it contains no animal-derived ingredients or by-products.
This cherry-flavored soda is suitable for vegans.
Is Cherry Vanilla Dr Pepper Vegan?
Yes! Cherry Vanilla Dr Pepper is vegan because it contains no animal-derived ingredients or by-products.
This cherry vanilla-flavored soda is suitable for vegan consumption.
Is Dr Pepper & Cream Soda Zero Sugar?
Yes! Dr Pepper & Cream Soda Zero Sugar is vegan because it contains no animal-derived ingredients or by-products.
This zero-sugar soda is suitable for vegans.
Is Caffeine Free Diet Dr Pepper Vegan?
Yes! Caffeine-Free Diet Dr Pepper is vegan because it contains no animal-derived ingredients or by-products.
This refreshing caffeine-free soda is suitable for vegan consumption.
Is Diet Cherry Vanilla Dr Pepper Vegan?
Yes! Diet Cherry Vanilla Dr Pepper is vegan because it contains no animal-derived ingredients or by-products.
This delicious diet soda is suitable for vegans.
Final Words
So there you have it! Dr Pepper’s original brand contains no animal-based ingredients, with the exception of cane sugar in the Made with Real Sugar variety. Dr Pepper’s sodas lack the usual suspects, such as gelatin, eggs, and dairy, so you can rest assured that they are vegan friendly.
If you’re in the mood for some soda but want to stick to a vegan diet, Dr Pepper has you covered! Just don’t forget to avoid the Made with Real Sugar version if you’re trying to avoid refined sugar. Cheers!