Harvest Snaps are packed with vegetables, but that doesn’t mean they’re vegan. In fact, identifying if any snack is vegan can be a daunting task.
Ingredients can be so vague, or they have names you can’t even pronounce, let alone identify the source of.
This article aims to shed light on the vegan nature of Harvest Snaps’ products and help guide our young eco-warriors towards a more ethical lifestyle.
Are Harvest Snaps Vegan?
Some Harvest Snaps varieties are totally vegan, and some aren’t. For example, Harvest Snaps Snack Crisps Lightly Salted are completely vegan. However, Harvest Snaps Crunchy Loops Sour Cream & Onion are decidedly not vegan.
Is Harvest Snaps Cruelty-Free?
There’s good news and bad news. I’ll start with the good news. Harvest Snaps are a completely non-GMO snack food. So you can trust that no GMOs, which are tested on animals, are present in these snacks.
However, the bad news is that Harvest Snaps makes no claim of being organic (except one or two flavors, for some reason) or cruelty-free, which means the dairy in some varieties may come from cows that are treated inhumanely. None of the ingredients may be tested on animals, but that doesn’t mean no live animals are harmed in the making of this snack food.
What Are Harvest Snaps Made Of?
Still, Harvest Snaps have captured the hearts of consumers with its unique flavors and wholesome ingredients. These snacks are highly valued for their vegetable content and resulting apparent health benefits, as well as its excellent taste.
Here is a list of the main ingredients that go into making Harvest Snaps Lightly Salted Snack Crisps, one of the only verifiably vegan products from Harvest Snaps:
- Green peas
- Canola oil
- Rice
- Salt
- Calcium carbonate
- Vitamin C
Green Peas
Green peas are the primary ingredient in Harvest Snaps. They are sourced from various locations, but most commonly come from North America. Green peas are used to give the snacks their unique, crunchy texture and distinct flavor. As a vegetable, green peas are naturally vegan, so they are suitable for those following a vegan diet.
Canola Oil
Canola oil is a type of edible oil derived from a variety of the rapeseed plant. It is used in the manufacturing process of Harvest Snaps to fry the snacks and give them their crunchy texture. Canola oil is sourced from places like Canada, where the rapeseed plant is widely grown. As it is a plant-based oil, canola oil is vegan-friendly.
Canola oil is often GMO, but since Harvest Snaps belongs to the non-GMO project, you can trust that the canola oil in this product is not GMO.
Rice
Rice is another primary ingredient used in Harvest Snaps. It’s sourced globally, with the largest producers being countries like China and India. Rice is used to give the snacks additional crunch and structure, working in combination with the green peas. Rice is a grain and is therefore vegan, making it suitable for those following a vegan diet.
Salt
Salt, also known as sodium chloride, is a key ingredient in Harvest Snaps, providing the snack’s savory flavor. It is sourced from various places around the world, including sea salt and mined salt deposits. Salt is inorganic and is therefore suitable for vegans.
Calcium Carbonate
Calcium carbonate is a type of calcium salt used in Harvest Snaps for its nutritional value and as a firming agent. It is usually sourced from limestone deposits. While calcium carbonate itself is vegan because it’s a mineral, the source of it should be checked. It can sometimes come from animal shells, which would not be vegan.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is an essential nutrient included in Harvest Snaps for its health benefits. It is sourced from various fruits and vegetables or created synthetically. The vegan status of vitamin C depends on its source.
If it is sourced from fruits and vegetables or made synthetically, it is vegan. If it’s sourced from animals, it is not vegan. Harvest Snaps uses a vegan-friendly source of Vitamin C.
Harvest Snaps Varieties
Are Harvest Snaps Sour Cream & Onion Crunchy Loops Vegan?
No, Sour Cream & Onion Crunchy Loops are not vegan. They contain various milk products and by-products, including whey and buttermilk.
Are Harvest Snaps Selects Honey Dijon Vegan?
No, Selects Honey Dijon are not vegan. They contain honey, a product from bees.
Are Harvest Snaps Tomato Basil Snack Crisps Vegan?
No, Crisps Tomato Basil may not be vegan. They contain sugar that may be processed with bone char. We would need to know which sugar company Harvest Snaps gets its sugar from to confirm if these snacks are vegan.
Vegan Alternatives to Harvest Snaps
For our discerning readers, here are some alternative vegan snack options to consider:
- Beanfields Snacks: Beanfields offers a wide variety of vegan, gluten-free, and plant-based snacks, much like the vegan-friendly Harvest Snaps flavors.
- Hippeas: Hippeas offers chickpea-based snacks that are certified gluten-free and vegan, providing a delicious and nutritious alternative.
- Rhythm Superfoods: Rhythm Superfoods offers a variety of fruit and veggie chips, all made from simple, natural ingredients. All its products are organic, vegan, and gluten-free.
Conclusion
While Harvest Snaps offers several vegan-friendly options, not all of its products are suitable for a strictly vegan diet due to the presence of milk products in some flavors or the risk of cross-contamination.
For those seeking to maintain a 100% vegan diet, considering alternative brands such as Beanfields, Hippeas, or Rhythm Superfoods might be a wise choice.
Always remember to check the ingredients label, since manufacturers change their recipes often. Keep championing the cause of a plant-based diet. It’s a powerful way to protect our planet and its inhabitants.