Is Baked Rice And Corn Puffs Vegan?

The Ingredient Breakdown

As a food scientist, I look past the marketing claims and go straight to the ingredient list. For Baked Rice And Corn Puffs, the vegan status is compromised almost immediately. The base of the product is Cornmeal and Rice Flour, which are perfectly fine for a vegan diet. However, the flavor profile relies heavily on animal-derived products.

The primary culprit is the Organic Cheddar Cheese. This ingredient is a blend of milk, cultures, salt, and enzymes. Since it comes from cow's milk, it is strictly non-vegan. Following that, the list includes Organic Buttermilk and Organic Skim Milk. Buttermilk is a byproduct of churning butter, and skim milk is milk with the fat removed. Both are dairy derivatives.

Even the Natural Flavor requires scrutiny. While 'natural flavor' can be plant-derived, in the context of a cheddar-flavored snack, it is almost certainly derived from dairy sources to mimic the cheese profile. Therefore, there are no workarounds to make this specific flavor variety vegan.

Nutritional Value

From a nutritional standpoint, Baked Rice And Corn Puffs are marketed as a lighter alternative to fried potato chips. They are baked rather than fried, which generally lowers the fat content compared to traditional chips. However, they still contain Expeller Pressed Canola Oil or Sunflower Oil, contributing to the overall calorie count.

The sodium content is moderate but present, thanks to the Salt and Sea Salt. The Black Pepper Extract adds a bit of spice without heat. For those monitoring their sugar intake, these puffs are generally low in sugar, but the Maltodextrin (a carbohydrate used as a thickener) acts as a fast-digesting starch. While they fit within standard diet limits for a snack, the presence of dairy makes them unsuitable for those with lactose intolerance or a vegan lifestyle.