Is Pepperidge farm crackers cheddar Vegan?

The Ingredient Breakdown

As a food scientist, I look beyond the marketing claims and straight at the label. The vegan status of any processed food comes down to the sourcing of its core flavoring agents and processing aids. For the Pepperidge Farm Cheddar Crackers, the verdict is clear due to a few specific ingredients.

The primary non-vegan culprit is, unsurprisingly, the Cheddar Cheese itself. The ingredient list identifies this as "cultured milk, salt, enzymes." This is a standard dairy product. Milk is an animal byproduct, making it incompatible with a vegan diet. Furthermore, the crackers list enzymes separately. While some enzymes are plant-derived, when listed alongside dairy products, they are often animal-based (such as rennet derived from calf stomachs) or microbial, but the presence of the cheese is the definitive dealbreaker.

Another subtle ingredient to note is Annatto. This is a natural food coloring derived from the seeds of the achiote tree. It is used to give the crackers that appetizing orange hue associated with cheddar cheese. Annatto is 100% plant-based and vegan. However, it does not negate the dairy content. The crackers also contain autolyzed yeast extract, which is a flavor enhancer (often associated with a savory, umami taste) derived from yeast. While yeast is a fungus and generally considered vegan, the overall product remains non-vegan due to the cheese.

Finally, the allergen statement at the end of the ingredient list is the most definitive proof: "contains: wheat, milk." The inclusion of milk confirms that there are no substitutions made for dairy in this recipe.

Nutritional Value

From a nutritional standpoint, these crackers are a standard savory snack. A serving size typically contains between 130 and 150 calories, with the majority of those calories coming from carbohydrates and fats derived from the enriched wheat flour and canola/sunflower oil.

The sodium content is a key factor to watch. With cheese and salt as prominent ingredients, these crackers can be relatively high in sodium compared to a plain cracker. For those monitoring blood pressure or sodium intake, this is an important consideration. The sugar content is generally low, as this is a savory item, but it isn't zero due to the fermentation processes involved in the flour and yeast.

Regarding dietary fit, these crackers are not gluten-free due to the wheat flour. They do fit into a vegetarian diet (lacto-vegetarian), but as established, they are not suitable for vegans or those with lactose intolerance/dairy allergies.