Are Ritz Crackers Vegan & Cruelty Free? (April, 2024)

Trying to work out if Ritz crackers are vegan is a tough task.

Mondelez masks the actual ingredients behind vague terms such as “natural flavor” and even when they do give you a full list, they never include how those ingredients were made.

To make sure you only eat foods that align with your ethical values, I’ve investigated the ingredients and production methods of Ritz. Here’s what I’ve found.

Are Ritz Crackers Vegan?

No. Unfortunately, Ritz crackers are not vegan.

The original Ritz crackers are generally touted as a vegan-friendly food. However, there are a couple of ingredients that give some cause for concern.

First, it uses refined sugar. While sugar is considered vegan by most definitions, because it is plant based, there is actually no guarantee that the sugar used to make Ritz crackers were not filtered through bone char during production.

Big food brands like Mondelez source their sugar from several different sugar providers. So, it’s hard to say for sure whether the sugar used in Ritz crackers was filtered with bone char.

Second, it uses natural flavors which may be made from animal-derived ingredients. Just like sugar, it’s hard to say for sure whether the natural flavors used in Ritz crackers are vegan.

Are Ritz Crackers Cruelty Free?

Yes, Ritz Crackers are cruelty free.

The production process for Ritz Crackers does not involve testing on animals or any other kind of animal cruelty. Mondelez is also known for using sustainable palm oil in its products.

What Are Ritz Original Crackers Made Of?

Here are the ingredients of Ritz Original Crackers:

Unbleached enriched flour (wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate [vitamin b1], riboflavin [vitamin b2], folic acid)
Canola oil
Palm oil
Sugar
Salt
Leavening (calcium phosphate, baking soda)
High fructose corn syrup
Soy lecithin
Natural flavor
Malted barley flour

Let’s break down each ingredient of Ritz Original Crackers:

Unbleached enriched flour

Unbleached enriched flour is flour that has been enriched with vitamins and minerals. It typically contains wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1), riboflavin (vitamin B2), and folic acid. This ingredient does not contain any animal derivatives.

Canola oil

Canola oil is a type of vegetable oil that is extracted from the canola plant. The canola plant is a member of the Brassica family, which also includes broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and cabbage. Canola oil does not contain any animal products.

Palm oil

Palm oil is a vegetable oil extracted from palm fruit. It is commonly used as an ingredient in processed foods because it has a long shelf-life and contains high amounts of saturated fats, making it more stable than other types of vegetable oils.

Palm oil is controversial due to the environmental impact it can have on the rainforest ecosystem. However, this is not an issue for Ritz Crackers because this ingredient is sourced from palm plantations that grow and harvest palm oil in a sustainable way.

Sugar

Some vegans avoid sugar because it may be processed using animal bone char. However, not all sugar is processed this way. Beet sugar and organic or raw sugar, for example, are not processed with animal bone char. A handful of sugar companies do not use bone char in their refining process.

Mondelez, being a big company, sources sugar from several different providers, making it hard to know for sure whether or not the sugar used to make Ritz crackers was filtered using bone char.

Salt

Salt is derived from the mineral sodium chloride. It does not contain any animal products.

Leavening (calcium phosphate, baking soda)

Leavening agents are typically used to help baked goods rise. They can be either chemical or natural. Calcium phosphate and baking soda do not contain any animal products.

High fructose corn syrup

This ingredient is a type of sugar made from cornstarch. It is commonly used as a sweetener in processed foods and has been linked to health problems such as obesity and diabetes. However, it is vegan friendly because it does not contain any animal products.

Soy lecithin

Soy lecithin is a type of emulsifier made from soybeans. It is commonly used in processed foods to help keep ingredients from separating. Soy lecithin does not contain any animal products.

Natural flavor

Natural flavor is an ingredient that contains a combination of oils and flavoring agents. Most are plant based, but some natural flavors may be derived from animal sources.

Just like sugar, Mondelez sources natural flavor from several different providers, making it hard to know for sure whether or not the natural flavor used to make Ritz Crackers contains any animal products.

Malted barley flour

This is a type of flour made from malted barley. It is barley that has been sprouted and then dried. This ingredient is completely plant based.

Why Aren’t Ritz Crackers Vegan?

Most of the ingredients in Ritz Crackers are vegan friendly, with the exception of sugar and natural flavors. Not all sugar is filtered using bone char, but some may be. The sugar in Ritz Crackers is not certified vegan, so strict vegans should avoid it.

The same goes for natural flavors. Some natural flavors may be derived from animal sources, but it is unclear whether or not the natural flavor used in Ritz Crackers contains any animal products. Because of this, Ritz Crackers are not considered vegan.

Are Ritz Crackers Cream Cheese & Onion Crisp Vegan?

No. Cream cheese and onion crisp contain animal by-products and are not vegan. The ingredients in these crackers are the same as the ingredients in the regular variety, with the addition of onion and cream cheese flavoring. This product is not safe for vegan consumption.

Is Peanut Butter Ritz Vegan?

No. Peanut Butter Ritz Crackers are not vegan. They contain the same ingredients as regular crackers, with the addition of peanut butter. This product is not safe for vegan consumption.

Are Ritz Crackers Barbecue Vegan?

No. Barbecue Ritz Crackers are not vegan. They contain the same ingredients as regular crackers, with the addition of barbecue flavoring. This product is not safe for vegan consumption.

Is Honey Wheat Ritz Vegan?

No. Honey wheat Ritz Crackers are not vegan because they contain honey. It also has the same problematic ingredients as the regular variety. This product is not safe for vegan consumption.

Are Ritz Bacon Crackers Vegan?

Despite the name, Ritz Bacon Crackers does not actually contain any bacon. However, it still has the same controversial ingredients as regular crackers. This product is not safe for vegan consumption.

Are Ritz Roasted Vegetable Crackers Vegan?

No. Ritz Roasted Vegetable Crackers are not vegan. They contain the same ingredients as regular crackers, with the addition of roasted vegetable flavoring. This product is not safe for vegan consumption.

Are Ritz Toasted Chips Vegan?

No. The Ritz Toasted Chips variety is not vegan because it contains milk ingredients. It also has the same controversial ingredients as regular crackers. This product is not safe for vegan consumption.

Are Ritz Sandwich Crackers Vegan?

No. Ritz Sandwich Crackers are not vegan. They have the same ingredients as regular crackers. This variety also contains milk ingredients. This product is not safe for vegan consumption.

Are Ritz Bits Vegan?

No. Ritz Bits are not vegan because they contain milk ingredients as well as the same controversial ingredients as regular crackers. This product is not safe for vegan consumption.

Vegan-Friendly Alternatives to Ritz Crackers

Final Words

Ritz crackers are a treat that many people enjoy, but if you’re following a vegan diet, they may not be the best choice. Ritz is very close to being vegan, but because of the sugar and natural flavors used in the crackers, I cannot safely say that these crackers are suitable for a vegan diet.

There are many vegan cracker options out there, but be sure to check the ingredients list before you buy.

Are Ritz Crackers Vegan and Cruelty Free?