Figuring out if Pop-Tarts are vegan can be a difficult task.
These breakfast pastries often have so many different ingredients, and it can be hard to determine which ones are vegan friendly and which ones are not.
To be sure that you are only eating foods that align with your vegan values, I have investigated the ingredients and production processes of Pop-Tarts to see if they are, in fact, vegan.
Here’s what I found.
Are Pop-Tarts Vegan?
No. Pop-tarts aren’t vegan. Far from it. Most Pop-Tarts flavors contain either one or more animal-derived ingredients.
The most common non-vegan ingredient found in Pop-Tarts is milk. Milk is an animal product, and as such, it is not vegan. Other non-vegan ingredients that may be present in Pop-Tarts include eggs, gelatin, confectioner’s glaze (also known as shellac), and carmine.
Eggs and gelatin are both well-known non-vegan ingredients. Gelatin is made from the collagen of animals, usually pigs and cows. Confectioner’s glaze is made from the secretion of female lac bugs and carmine is a red food coloring that is derived from crushed cochineal insects.
Even the ones that are considered vegan flavors are not vegan because they contain refined sugar that may be filtered with animal bone char. Not all refined sugar uses bone char to filter it, but unless the sugar is labeled as either “raw,” “unrefined,” or “organic,” it can’t be safe for vegans to consume.
So, if you are vegan and want to enjoy Pop-Tarts, you’ll need to find a recipe for vegan Pop-Tarts. There are quite a few out there, so you should have no trouble finding one that you like.
Are Pop-Tarts Cruelty Free?
Kellogg’s, the brand that makes Pop-Tarts, was known to test their products on animals for years, but in 2019, after talks with PETA they finally committed to ending all animal testing.
What are Pop-Tarts Made Of?
Here are the ingredients of Frosted Chocolate Chip Pop-Tarts:
- Wheat flour
- Vitamins (niacin, thiamin, riboflavin, folate, mineral (iron))
- Sugar
- Vegetable oil (genetically modified)
- Corn syrup (genetically modified)
- Dextrose (genetically modified)
- High fructose corn syrup (genetically modified)
- Milk
- Egg
- Salt
- Raising agents (baking powder, sodium bicarbonate)
- Cinnamon
- Wheat starch
- Gelatin (beef)
- Color (150d)
- Natural flavors
- Confectioner’s Glaze
- Emulsifier (soy lecithin [genetically modified])
Let’s break down each ingredient of Pop-Tarts.
Wheat flour
Wheat flour is a type of flour made from grinding wheat. It is a common ingredient in many baked goods and can be found in most grocery stores. It does not contain any animal-derived ingredients.
Vitamins (niacin, thiamin, riboflavin, folate, mineral [iron])
These vitamins are essential nutrients that can be found in many plant-based foods. They do not contain any animal-derived ingredients.
Sugar
Sugar is a controversial ingredient among vegans because it can be processed with animal bone char. Bone char is derived from the bones of animals and is used to process sugar to make it white. Sugars with a label that says “unrefined,” “raw,” or “organic” are vegan because they have not been processed with bone char.
Which type of sugar is used in Pop-Tarts isn’t explicitly clear, but as with all large food brands, Kellogg’s sources their sugar from multiple sources, so it’s likely not vegan.
Vegetable oil (palm oil)
Vegetable oil is a type of oil made from vegetables. It is a common ingredient in many processed foods and can be found in most grocery stores. Palm oil is a type of vegetable oil that is made from the fruit of palm trees. It is technically vegan because it does not contain any animal-derived ingredients.
Some vegans have a problem with palm oil because the production of palm oil destroys the habitat of many animals, including orangutans. However, sustainable palm oil is getting common and many food brands, including Kellogg’s, are using sustainable palm oil in their products.
Corn syrup
Corn syrup is a type of sugar made from cornstarch. It is often used as a sweetener or thickener in food products. It is not made from animals or animal by-products.
Dextrose
Dextrose is a type of sugar made from starch. It is often used as a sweetener or thickener in food products. It is a vegan ingredient because it does not contain any animal-derived ingredients.
High fructose corn syrup (genetically modified)
High fructose corn syrup is a type of corn syrup that has been processed to contain higher levels of fructose. It is often used as a sweetener in food products. It does not contain any animal-derived ingredients.
Milk
Milk is an animal product and therefore is not vegan. The fact that most Pop-Tarts flavors have milk listed as an ingredient means that they are not vegan friendly.
Egg
Eggs are, of course, not vegan. The fact that some Pop-Tarts flavors have eggs listed as an ingredient means that they are not vegan friendly.
Salt
Salt is a mineral used to add flavor or as a preservative. Salt does not contain any animal-derived ingredients.
Raising agents (baking powder, sodium bicarbonate)
Raising agents are used in baking to help breads and cakes rise. They do not contain any animal-derived ingredients.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon is a spice made from the inner bark of trees in the genus Cinnamomum. It does not contain any animal-derived ingredients.
Wheat starch
Wheat starch is a type of starch made from wheat. It is often used as a thickener in food products. It is considered a vegan because the processing does not involve any animal products.
Gelatin
Gelatin is a type of ingredient that is made from collagen. It is often used in food products as a gelling agent. Gelatin is a non-vegan ingredient because it is derived from animals.
Color (150d)
The color 150d is a caramel brown food coloring that is created by heating sucrose. It does not contain any animal-derived ingredients.
Natural flavors
Natural flavors are derived from either plants or animal sources. What natural flavors are used in Pop-Tarts isn’t explicitly clear, but as with all large food brands, Kellogg’s sources their natural flavors from multiple sources, so it’s likely not all of them are vegan.
Confectioner’s glaze
Confectioner’s glaze, also known as shellac, is a type of ingredient that is made from the resin of the lac bug. It is often used in food products as a glazing agent. Confectioner’s glaze is not a vegan ingredient. It is derived from animals.
Emulsifier (soy lecithin)
An emulsifier is a type of ingredient that helps to bind together other ingredients that would otherwise not mix well. Soy lecithin 322 is an emulsifier made from soybeans. It is considered vegan because the processing does not involve any animal products.
Why Aren’t Pop-Tarts Considered Vegan?
The ingredients that are used in Pop-Tarts are not all vegan. The majority of the flavors contain milk, eggs, or gelatin, which are all non-vegan ingredients. The only flavors that are considered vegan have refined sugar, anyway, so it is difficult to determine if the product is truly vegan. Some vegans may choose to avoid Pop-Tarts due to the uncertain origin of its sugar.
Are Frosted Strawberry Pop-Tarts Vegan?
No. Strawberry Pop-Tarts contain gelatin, which is a non-vegan ingredient. This product is not safe for vegan consumption.
Are Frosted Strawberry Milkshake Pop-Tarts Vegan?
No. Strawberry Milkshake Pop-Tarts contain gelatin which is not a vegan-friendly ingredient. This product is not safe for vegan consumption.
Are Frosted Wild Berry Pop-Tarts Vegan?
No. Wild Berry Pop-Tarts contain gelatin and carmine, a red colorant made from insects, which are not vegan-friendly ingredients. This product is not safe for vegan consumption.
Are Frosted Red Velvet Cupcake Pop-Tarts Vegan?
No. Red Velvet Cupcake Pop-Tarts contain gelatin and milk, which are derived from animals and are non-vegan ingredients. This product is not safe for vegan consumption.
Are Unfrosted Brown Sugar Cinnamon Pop-Tarts Vegan?
No. Brown Sugar Cinnamon Pop-Tarts contain sugar that may or may not be filtered with animal bone char. The sugar in this product did not specify if it was raw, unrefined, or organic, so it is safe to assume that it is not vegan. This product is not safe for vegan consumption.
Are Unfrosted Blueberry Pop-Tarts Vegan?
No. The Unfrosted Blueberry flavor of Pop-Tarts contains sugar that may or may not be filtered with animal bone char. The sugar in this product did not specify if it was raw, unrefined, or organic, so it is safe to assume that it is not vegan. This product is not safe for vegan consumption.
Are Unfrosted Strawberry Pop-Tarts Vegan?
No. Strawberry Pop-Tarts contain sugar that may or may not be filtered with animal bone char. The sugar in this product did not specify if it was raw, unrefined, or organic, so it is safe to assume that it is not vegan. This product is not safe for vegan consumption.
Vegan-Friendly Alternatives to Pop-Tarts
At the time of publishing, only one brand has a truly vegan toaster pastry available in the market, Bobo’s Toaster Pastry. Bobo’s products use all organic ingredients and do not contain any animal-derived products. Other companies, such as Annie’s and Nature’s Path, make organic toaster pastries but they contain milk.
Fortunately, you can make your own vegan Pop-Tarts at home with these very simple recipes available on the web.
- Vegan Pop-Tarts from yumveganlunchideas
- Vegan Strawberry Pop-Tarts from beplantwell
- Vegan Pop-Tarts from Connoisseurusveg
Final Words
As you can see, Pop-Tarts are clearly not vegan. Most have one or two ingredients that are directly derived from animals. If you are vegan and you’re itching for vegan toaster pastries your best bet is to either make your own Pop-Tarts at home or find an alternative product like Bobo’s toaster pastries. With a little bit of effort, it is possible to find or create a delicious and cruelty-free breakfast pastry.