Skips is a popular prawn cracker snack food enjoyed by people all over the world. Its prawn flavour has captured the hearts of many, but if you follow a vegan lifestyle, you may be wondering if Skips are vegan friendly.
Are Skips Vegan?
Yes. Prawn cocktail flavour Skips are considered vegan-friendly by many vegans because they are made from plant-based ingredients and do not contain any animal products or animal-derived ingredients.
The prawn flavour may of course be off-putting to some vegans, but it isn’t really from prawns! It’s made from a combination of spices that gives it that unique flavour.
Some vegans may also have issues with the fact that Skips are produced in a factory that also handles milk products. Many vegans are okay with a small risk of cross contamination since the factory equipment is cleaned regularly.
In addition, some may not like the phrase “may contain milk.” However, the phrase “may contain milk” is mostly considered vegan. However, if you have a severe allergy to milk, you might want to avoid Skips.
So, are Skips vegan? The answer is yes. They’re an “accidentally vegan-friendly” snack because of their plant-based ingredients.
What Are Skips Made Of?
Here are the ingredients in Skips:
- Tapioca starch
- Sunflower oil
- Maize flour
- Prawn cocktail flavour [sugar, salt, natural flavourings, acid: citric acid, dried onion, natural vinegar flavouring, potassium chloride, yeast extract, spice, dried tomato, natural pepper flavourings, colour: paprika extract]
- Rice protein
- Sugar
- Salt
- Colour: paprika extract
Let’s break down each ingredient of Skips:
Tapioca starch
Tapioca starch is a type of flour that is made from the root of the cassava plant. It is commonly used as a thickening agent in food. This is what gives Skips their chewy texture. It is a vegan-friendly, plant-based ingredient.
Sunflower oil
Sunflower oil is a type of vegetable oil extracted from sunflower seeds. It is high in vitamin E and has a neutral flavour. Sunflower oil is often used in cooking and baking. It is a vegan-friendly, plant-based ingredient.
Maize flour
Maize flour is made from ground corn. Common in Latin American cuisine, it is often used in baking as a thickening agent. This is a vegan-friendly, plant-based ingredient.
Prawn cocktail flavour
The prawn cocktail flavour in Skips comes from a blend of sugar, salt, natural flavours, acid, dried onion, natural vinegar flavouring, potassium chloride, yeast extract, spice, dried tomato, and natural pepper flavourings. This flavour is vegan friendly.
Rice protein
Rice protein is derived from rice. It is a popular plant-based protein because it is hypoallergenic and easy to digest. It is often used as a vegan-friendly alternative to whey protein. Rice protein is a plant-based, vegan-friendly ingredient.
Sugar
Sugar is a type of carbohydrate made from sugar cane or sugar beet. It is often used as a sweetener in food. Sugar is usually a vegan, plant-based ingredient. Some sugars, often called “refined sugar,” are processed with animal bone char, which is not vegan. At the time of publication, I have yet to receive an answer from the company about whether they use refined sugar, but this product is considered vegan by most standards.
Salt
Salt is a mineral composed of sodium and chloride. It is often used as a flavour enhancer or to preserve food. Salt is a vegan-friendly ingredient that occurs naturally and does not contain animal by-products.
Colour: Paprika Extract
The colour in Skips comes from paprika extract. Paprika is a type of spice made from dried and ground peppers. It is often used to add colour and flavour to food. Paprika extract is a vegan-friendly ingredient often used in place of artificial food colouring, which is tested on animals.
Why Are Skips Vegan?
Skips are often called “accidentally vegan” snacks. The main ingredients in Skips are tapioca starch, maize flour, rice protein, and sugar. These are all plant-based, vegan-friendly ingredients.
Skips Prawn Cocktail Crisps flavour also does not contain any animal derivatives or any animal by-products. The colour in Skips comes from the paprika extract, which is also a vegan-friendly ingredient.
Though there are risks of cross contamination because Skips are manufactured in a factory that also processes milk products, many vegans consider “may contain milk” unproblematic. The risk of cross contamination is actually quite low, as is the chance of Skips actually containing milk.
People allergic to milk might want to find an alternative to Skips, though, because even traces of milk can cause allergic reactions in some people.
Are Asda Prawn Cocktail Shells Vegan?
No. Asda Prawn Cocktail Shells are an example of a prawn snack that is not vegan-friendly. They are more suitable for vegetarians because they contain milk or milk derivatives. They are not safe for vegan consumption.
Are M&S Prawn Cocktail Shells Vegan?
Yes. M&S Prawn Cocktail Shells do not contain any animal derivatives or by-products.
This snack’s ingredients are almost identical to Skips’ Prawn Cocktail but add dried onions and tomatoes, both of which are vegan-friendly, plant-based ingredients. They are safe for vegan consumption.
Are Pringles Prawn Cocktail Vegan?
No. Pringles Prawn Cocktail contain milk. They are not safe for vegan consumption.
Vegan Alternatives to Skips Prawn Cocktail Crisps
There are other vegan-friendly prawn cocktail crisps on the market. Here are a few examples vegan snacks from other brands:
- Morrison’s Prawn Cocktail Crisps
- Seabrook Prawn Cocktail Crisps
- Sainsbury’s Prawn Crisps
- Walkers Prawn Cocktail Crisps
- Tyrell’s Posh Prawn Crisps
Final Words
As you can see, most Skips are vegan because their ingredients are plant based and contain no animal derivatives. The prawn cocktail flavour does not contain any actual prawns.
Skips are considered to be vegan friendly, but if you have an allergy to milk or are a very strict vegan, you may want to avoid Skips because they are manufactured in a factory that also processes milk products.
Not all prawn cocktail crisps are vegan like Skips, though. As usual, you should consult the food label’s ingredients before consuming if you are a strict vegan.