Identifying whether a popular breakfast cereal like Kellogg’s Corn Flakes is vegan can be a challenging task.
This difficulty stems from the fact that manufacturers often hide the true nature and source of their ingredients, making it hard for consumers to determine the vegan status of a product.
This article aims to uncover the truth about Kellogg’s Corn Flakes ingredients and support you, our compassionate and planet-conscious reader, on your vegan journey.
Are Kellogg’s Corn Flakes Vegan?
To cut straight to the chase, no, Kellogg’s Corn Flakes are not considered to be 100% vegan. While many might assume that because it’s a corn-based product, it would naturally be a plant-based food, this isn’t entirely the case.
The presence of certain ingredients, particularly vitamin D3, precludes a vegan-friendly status for Corn Flakes. Vitamin D3 is often derived from sheep’s wool, making it a non-vegan ingredient that vegans avoid.
Are Kellogg’s Corn Flakes Cruelty-Free?
Unfortunately, given the use of Vitamin D3 derived from sheep’s wool, Kellogg’s Corn Flakes cannot be classified as a cruelty-free product. This shows that not all Kellogg’s cereals align with the ethics and values of a plant-based diet that excludes all animal products.
What are Kellogg’s Corn Flakes made of?
Let’s delve into the details of each ingredient found in a box of Kellogg’s Corn Flakes to understand their origins and role in the product:
- Milled corn
- Sugar
- Malt flavor
- Salt
- High fructose corn syrup
- Ascorbic acid (vitamin C)
- Niacinamide
- Iron (ferric phosphate)
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride)
- Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)
- Vitamin B1 (thiamin hydrochloride)
- Folic acid
- Vitamin D3
- Vitamin B12
- Zinc oxide
Milled corn
This is the base ingredient of Corn Flakes, derived directly from corn, making it vegan. It plays a significant role in giving the cereal its primary texture and flavor.
Sugar and high fructose corn syrup
These ingredients provide sweetness to the cereal. Some sugar companies use bone char (charred animal bones) in the refining process, but it’s not present in the final product. Although the sugar in Kellogg’s Corn Flakes could be vegan, the use of bone char in the processing makes it a gray area for many vegans.
Malt flavor and salt
These ingredients add to the overall taste of the product. Malt flavor comes from barley malt extract, which is vegan. Salt is also vegan.
Ascorbic acid (vitamin C), niacinamide, vitamin E, iron (ferric phosphate), vitamin B6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride), vitamin B2 (riboflavin), vitamin B1 (thiamin hydrochloride), folic acid, vitamin B12, zinc oxide
These are all vitamins and minerals added to the cereal to enhance its nutritional value. They are typically synthetic and are vegan.
Vitamin D3
This is the culprit that makes Kellogg’s Corn Flakes non-vegan. Vitamin D3 is often derived from sheep’s wool.
Vegan Alternatives to Kellogg’s Corn Flakes
Fear not, fellow vegan warriors, there are plenty of alternatives that are both delicious and align with your plant-based lifestyle. These include:
- Nature’s Path Organic Corn Flakes: Click here for more info.
- Whole Foods 365 Corn Flakes: Click here for more info.
- Barbara’s Bakery Puffins Cereal: Click here for more info.
- Nature’s Path Organic Sunrise Crunchy Vanilla Cereal: Click here for more info.
- Cascadian Farm Organic Cereal: Click here for more info.
These breakfast cereals offer the same crunch and enjoyment without any hidden animal-derived ingredients.
Conclusion
While Kellogg’s Corn Flakes may appear vegan at first glance, its use of Vitamin D3, often derived from sheep’s wool, disqualifies it from being a vegan-friendly or cruelty-free breakfast cereal.
We hope this deep dive into the ingredients has provided you with valuable insights and vegan alternatives from different brands to keep your breakfast bowl exciting and ethically aligned with your lifestyle.
So, let’s continue on our path of compassion and sustainability, one meal at a time.