Trying to find out whether your favorite snacks are vegan can sometimes be a challenge.
Makers of chips often hide their ingredients behind vague terms like “natural flavors,” and even when they do provide a full list of ingredients, it can be hard to determine whether they’re really vegan.
To ensure that you’re only eating food that aligns with your vegan diet and lifestyle, I’ve investigated the ingredients and production processes of Garden Salsa Sun Chips.
Here’s what I found.
Are Garden Salsa Sun Chips Vegan?
No. Garden Salsa Sun Chips are not vegan.
Garden Salsa Sun Chips is a whole grain snack loved by many. They have a very strong flavor that is a combination of spices like chili pepper, bell pepper, and garlic. Unfortunately, these chips are not vegan because they also contain cheese, milk, and whey, which are animal-derived ingredients.
Additionally, this snack contains refined sugar, which is usually processed using animal bone char.
These ingredients make Garden Salsa Sun Chips unsuitable for vegans.
Are Garden Salsa Sun Chips Cruelty-Free?
Yes! Garden Salsa Sun Chips are 100% cruelty-free.
Sunchips does not test its products on animals at any stage of production, nor do they use any ingredients that are routinely tested on animals.
Animal testing is a cruel and outdated practice that should be stopped. It only leaves innocent animals disfigured, maimed, and dead. There are alternative methods that do not involve animals and are more reliable. So, there is no reason for food brands to continue using this barbaric practice.
You can rest assured that when you purchase Garden Salsa Sun Chips, you are not supporting animal cruelty in any way.
What Are Garden Salsa Sun Chips Made Of?
Here are the ingredients of Garden Salsa Sun Chips:
- Whole corn
- Sunflower oil
- Canola oil
- Whole wheat
- Brown rice flour
- Whole oat flour
- Sugar
- Tomato powder
- Salt
- Cheddar cheese (milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes)
- Dextrose
- Buttermilk
- Onion powder
- Whey
- Yeast extract
- Maltodextrin (made from corn)
- Romano cheese (part-skim cow’s milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes)
- Whey protein concentrate
- Natural flavors
- Corn oil
- Spices (including jalapeño pepper)
- Citric acid
- Paprika extracts
- Lactic acid
Let’s break down each ingredient of Garden Salsa Sun Chips:
Whole corn
Whole corn is corn that includes the entire kernel: the germ, endosperm, and bran. It is a good source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Whole corn is vegan.
Sunflower oil
Sunflower oil is an edible oil obtained from sunflower seeds. It is high in polyunsaturated fats and low in saturated fats. Sunflower oil is vegan.
Canola oil
Canola oil is a vegetable oil obtained from a variety of rapeseed. It is low in saturated fats and high in monounsaturated fats. Canola oil is vegan.
Whole wheat
Whole wheat is wheat that includes the entire grain: the bran, germ, and endosperm. It is a good source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Whole wheat is vegan.
Brown rice flour
Brown rice flour is flour made from brown rice. It is a good source of fiber and nutrients. Brown rice flour is vegan.
Whole oat flour
Whole oat flour is flour made from whole oats. It is a good source of fiber and nutrients. Whole oat flour is vegan.
Sugar
Sugar is a sweetener made from sugarcane or sugar beet. It is usually processed using animal bone char, making it unsuitable for vegan consumption. Unless the sugar in the product is labeled “raw,” “organic,” or “unrefined,” it is likely not vegan.
Tomato powder
Tomato powder is a powder made from dried tomatoes. It is a good source of vitamins and minerals. Tomato powder is vegan.
Salt
Salt is a seasoning made from sodium chloride. It is a good source of iodine. Salt is vegan.
Cheddar cheese
Cheddar cheese is a cheese made from cow’s milk. It is a good source of protein and calcium. Cheddar cheese is not vegan.
Dextrose
Dextrose is a simple sugar that is derived from corn. While it is not exactly the same as table sugar, it has a very similar taste and texture. Dextrose is vegan friendly as long as it is not processed with bone char.
Dextrose is probably safe for vegans to consume. However, if you are a strict vegan opposed to the possible use of bone char, you might want to either avoid it or conduct further research on products containing it.
Buttermilk
Buttermilk is milk made from cow’s milk. It is a good source of calcium and protein. Buttermilk is not vegan.
Onion powder
Onion powder is a seasoning made from dried onions. It is a good source of flavor. Onion powder is vegan.
Whey
Whey is a type of protein made from cow’s milk. It is a good source of protein. Whey is not vegan.
Yeast extract
Yeast extract is a seasoning made from yeast. It is a good source of flavor. Yeast extract is vegan.
Maltodextrin (made from corn)
Maltodextrin is a sugar made from corn. It is often used as a sweetener. Maltodextrin is vegan.
Romano cheese
Romano cheese is a cheese made from cow’s milk. It is a good source of protein and calcium. Romano cheese is not vegan.
Whey protein concentrate
Whey protein concentrate is a protein made from cow’s milk. It is a good source of protein. Whey protein concentrate is not vegan.
Natural flavors
Natural flavors are flavors that are derived from natural sources. They are a good source of flavor. Natural flavors can be vegan or not vegan. In this case it’s safest to assume they’re not.
Corn oil
Corn oil is a vegetable oil made from corn. It is a good source of monounsaturated fats. Corn oil is vegan.
Spices (including jalapeño pepper)
Spices are seasonings made from dried herbs and spices. They are a good source of flavor. Spices are vegan.
Citric acid
Citric acid is an acid made from citrus fruits. It is a good source of flavor. Citric acid is vegan.
Paprika extracts
Paprika extracts are seasonings made from paprika. They are a good source of flavor. Paprika extracts are vegan.
Lactic acid
Lactic acid is an acid used as a preservative. It is made by fermenting carbohydrates. Lactic acid is typically vegan.
Why Aren’t Garden Salsa Sun Chips Vegan?
Garden Salsa Sun Chips are not vegan because they contain cheddar cheese, buttermilk, and whey protein concentrate. These ingredients are all derived from animals and are not considered vegan. Additionally, they contain refined sugar, which is usually processed using animal bone char. These ingredients make Garden Salsa Sun Chips unsuitable for a vegan diet.
Are Harvest Cheddar Flavored Whole Grain Snacks Vegan?
No. Harvest Cheddar Flavored Whole Grain Snacks contain buttermilk, cheddar cheese, cow’s milk, and whey protein concentrate.
This crispy snack is not safe for vegan consumption.
Are Veggie Harvest Tomato, Basil & Cheese Flavored Veggie & Whole Grain Snacks Vegan?
No. Veggie Harvest Tomato, Basil & Cheese Flavored Veggie & Whole Grain Snacks contain buttermilk, cheddar cheese, milk, and whey protein concentrate.
This product is not safe for vegan consumption.
Are French Onion Flavored Whole Grain Snacks Vegan?
No. French Onion Flavored Whole Grain Snacks contain butter, milk, mozzarella cheese, and whey protein concentrate.
This product is not safe for vegan consumption.
Are Sunchips Original Whole Grain Snacks Vegan?
No. Sunchips Original Whole Grain Snacks contain refined sugar.
These chips are not safe for vegan consumption.
Are Sun Puffs Four Cheese Flavored Whole Grain Snacks Vegan?
No. Sun Puffs Four Cheese Flavored Whole Grain Snacks contain dairy products and refined sugar.
This cheese snack is not safe for vegan consumption.
Are Sunchips Sweet Potato & Brown Sugar Flavored Whole Grain Snacks Vegan?
No. Sunchips Sweet Potato & Brown Sugar Flavored Whole Grain Snacks contain honey and refined sugar.
This product is not safe for vegan consumption.
Are Miss Vickie’s Sea Salt & Vinegar Flavored Kettle Cooked Potato Chips Vegan?
No. Miss Vickie’s Sea Salt & Vinegar Flavored Kettle Cooked Potato Chips contain buttermilk and refined sugar.
These vinegar potato chips are not safe for vegan consumption.
Vegan Alternatives to Garden Salsa Sun Chips
If you’re in the mood for a crispy, salty snack, there are plenty of vegan alternatives to Garden Salsa Sun Chips. Here are some of my favorites:
- Beanfields Pico de Gallo Bean
- Lime Tortilla Chips
- Probiotic Dragon Puffs
- Nacho Tortilla Chips
- Super Seed Mix Plant Thins
These chips are all delicious and vegan friendly! You won’t have to miss out on flavor or texture when you switch to a vegan lifestyle. So, next time you’re in the mood for a crunchy snack, reach for one of these vegan options.
Final Words
So there you have it! Garden Salsa Sun Chips are not vegan because they contain cheese, buttermilk, whey protein concentrate, and refined sugar. While this product is not vegan, there are plenty of delicious vegan chips on the market that you can enjoy. So, if you are craving some delicious and crunchy snacks suitable for your vegan diet, reach for one of these vegan flavor options instead.