Are Ritz Crackers Vegan? (Find Out Now!)

Ritz crackers have been around since 1934 and are popular snack crackers. They come in a sleeve and can be easily added to trays of dips or crushed on the top of a casserole. They are light, crisp, and have a buttery flavor.

Ritz crackers are considered vegan. However, Ritz crackers contain sugar and natural flavors, both of which may be questionable ingredients for strict vegans. The best healthier alternatives to Ritz crackers that are also vegan include Simple Mills Almond Flour Sea Salt Crackers, Mary’s Gone Crackers, Crunchmaster Multi-Seed Crackers, and Hu Kitchen Grain-Free Pizza Flavor Crackers.

Let’s dive into the history of Ritz, the potentially questionable ingredients, and the varieties available with their ingredients and nutrition facts. Then I’ll introduce you to some alternatives that you might want to try.

History of Ritz

It’s always fun to learn about the history of food. Ritz Crackers have been around since 1934. They were conceived in the early 1900s but didn’t become Ritz until Nabisco bought them and Sydney Stern devised a marketing plan. Times were tough back then, and Nabisco decided to make an inexpensive box of crackers accessible to everyone. Named after the famous Ritz hotel, the intent was to bring a little luxury into everyone’s daily lives.

Walt Disney even incorporated a box of Ritz in one of Mickey Mouse’s movies in 1939. Over the years, there have been many varieties of Ritz crackers, but the original recipe is still the most popular and versatile.

Ritz is currently owned by Mondelez International, a mega candy, food, beverage, and snack food company that manages many famous brands.

Are Ritz Crackers Healthy?

They can be included in a healthy diet if you pay attention to calories and portion control. A serving size is about five crackers. There is a reduced-fat version that is 10 fewer calories and slightly less fat. Less desirable ingredients in Ritz include high fructose corn syrup, sugar, and oils. You might consider healthier alternatives that add more nutrients.

Questionable Ingredients

Many vegans preach that Ritz is excellent to eat, but we can’t agree wholeheartedly without giving you something to think about. Then we leave it up to you to decide for sure. The only way to be sure something is genuinely vegan is by a label, which Ritz does not have.

Sugar can come from many sources, including beets, cane, and coconut. Most processed foods use beet or cane sugar. During the processing, sugars are refined. This can be done with vegan-friendly processes or using bone char, which is burnt up bones of animals. We can’t be sure which method Ritz uses.

Natural Flavorings can be derived from animal, plant, or crustacean sources. Many believe Ritz uses plant-based flavorings, but this is not for sure.

If you are a strict vegan, use caution. If you are more lax, you are probably safe.

Ritz Varieties

Ritz makes more than just crackers! They offer varieties of Crisp & Thins, Toasted Chips, and Crispers.

Originals

All are vegan, except the Honey Wheat. Surprisingly, the Garlic Butter is vegan!

Original
Roasted Vegetable
Garlic Butter
Reduced-Fat
Hint of Salt
Whole Wheat
Everything

Crisp & Thins

There are four vegan varieties and three non-vegan. Non-vegans are the cheese varieties.

Original
Salt & Vinegar
Barbecue
Tabasco

Ritz Bits

There are two varieties, Peanut Butter and Cheese. Neither are vegan as they contain milk products.

Nabisco Ritz Toasted Chips

The multigrain chips and pita crackers are vegan. The rest contain milk or whey.

Multigrain
Pita

Cheese Crispers

These are not vegan as they contain cheeses.