Pepperidge Farm, a commercial bakery founded in 1937, has produced an array of well-known and successful products such as Goldfish crackers and Milano cookies. One of the most successful products to be added by the Pepperidge Farm Company was a light and flaky dough called puff pastry. It enabled even the most inexperienced cooks to create masterpieces in the kitchen like Danishes, turnovers, and chicken potpie. Although for those who have chosen a vegan lifestyle, does it really measure up?
Campbell’s, the parent company of Pepperidge Farm, advertises their puff pastry as vegan. However, the ingredients include mono and diglycerides, which may be sourced from animal fats. Vegans may want to avoid anything with these ingredients unless the product clearly states where they were sourced. Vegan alternatives include Aussie Puff Pastry and Orgran Gluten-Free All Purpose Pastry Mix.
In this article, we will review the ingredients and nutrition facts of Pepperidge Farm puff pastry sheets and shells. We will look at what ingredients make it not healthy and not vegan friendly. We will also go over other healthier and vegan-friendly alternatives that you can try instead. Lets get started!
Contents
Is Pepperidge Farm Puff Pastry Healthy?
Pepperidge Farm puff pastry sheets are light, tender, and flaky. They are pre-rolled and ready to use after thawing in desserts, side dishes, and entrees. They apparently are hailed as a crowd favorite.
Campbell’s, the parent company of Pepperidge Farm, advertises this puff pastry dough as vegan and kosher certified. Many in the vegan health community consider it vegan as well. However, the ingredients include mono and diglycerides, which may be sourced from animal fats and are not specifically labeled as sourced from vegetables.
They also contain hydrogenated oil, high fructose corn syrup, and color additives. With all these unhealthy ingredients and questionable vegan labeling, I am not so sure it will remain a crowd favorite.
Pepperidge Farm Frozen Puff Pastry Sheets
Ingredients:
- Unbleached Enriched Wheat Flour (flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate [Vitamin B1], riboflavin [Vitamin B2], folic acid)
- Water
- Vegetable oils (palm, soybean, hydrogenated cottonseed)
- Contains 2% or less of:
- High fructose corn syrup
- Salt
- Mono and Diglycerides
- Soy Lecithin
- Malted Barley Flour
- Turmeric and Annatto Extracts for Color
- Contains: wheat, soy
Nutrition Facts (per 1/6 sheet 41g):
- Calories: 150
- Total Fat: 14 g (18% DV)
- Saturated Fat: 7g (35% DV)
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g
- Monounsaturated Fat: 4g
- Cholesterol: 0mg (0% DV)
- Sodium: 200 mg (9% DV)
- Total Carbohydrate: 22g (8% DV)
- Dietary Fiber: 2g (7% DV)
- Total Sugars: 2g
- Includes 2g added sugars (4% DV)
- Protein: 4g
- Vitamin D: 0mcg
- Calcium: 6mg
- Iron: 1mg
- Potassium: 35mg
Pepperidge Farm Puff Pastry Shells
Pepperidge Farm puff pastry shells are the individual-sized alternative to the sheets for making finger foods. The ingredient lists and nutrition facts differ slightly from sheets to shells. There is unbleached wheat flour in the sheets but not in the shells. The sheets also contain polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, which are beneficial to your health; the shells do not contain these. While not a significant amount, the sheets also contain calcium and potassium, whereas the shells do not contain these.
Ingredients:
- Enriched wheat flour (Flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid)
- Water
- Vegetable oils (palm, soybean, hydrogenated cottonseed)
- Contains 2% or less of:
- High fructose corn syrup
- Salt
- Mono and Diglycerides
- Soy Lecithin
- Malted Barley Flour
- Turmeric and Annatto Extracts for Color
- Contains: wheat, soy
Nutrition Facts (per 1 shell 47g/1.7oz.):
- Calories: 180
- Total Fat: 11 g (17% DV)
- Saturated Fat: 6g (30% DV)
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg (0% DV)
- Sodium: 160 mg (7% DV)
- Total Carbohydrate: 18g (6% DV)
- Dietary Fiber: 2g (8% DV)
- Total Sugars: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Vitamin A: 0%
- Vitamin C: 0%
- Calcium: 0%
- Iron: 6%
Vegan Puff Pastry & Alternatives
Aussie Puff Pastry Sheets
This puff pastry is almost unbelievably wholesome with only 5 ingredients and no trans fat, no hydrogenated oils, no high fructose corn syrup, no mono or diglycerides, no artificial colors/flavors/additives, no preservatives, and no cholesterol. They are also 100% vegan!
Ingredients:
- Unbleached Wheat Flour (niacin, reduced iron, thiamin, mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid)
- Vitamin C
- Palm Oil
- Salt
- Sugar (cornstarch)
Nutrition Facts (per 1oz 28g):
- Calories: 129
- Calories from Fat: 60
- Total Fat: 7g (11% DV)
- Saturated Fat: 3.5g (18% DV)
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg (0% DV)
- Sodium: 40mg (2% DV)
- Total Carbohydrate: 11g (4% DV)
- Dietary Fiber: 0g
- Sugars: 0g
- Protein: 2g
- Vitamin A: 0%
- Vitamin C: 0%
- Calcium: 0%
- Thiamin: 8%
- Iron: 4%
- Riboflavin: 4%
- Niacin: 4%
Orgran Gluten-Free All Purpose Pastry Mix
If you do not mind mixing up your own pastry dough, this pastry mix is a great option. It is a quality plant-based product that can be conveniently prepared into sheets. It is gluten-free, wheat-free, egg-free, dairy-free, yeast-free, and vegan. And unlike Pepperidge Farm puff pastry that does not give you the source of the monoglycerides on the label, this product clearly states that it contains vegetable-derived monoglycerides.
Orgran Company is based out of Australia and is well known for its allergy friendly foods, but it is somewhat hard to find in American grocery stores. Their products are available online or on Amazon.
Ingredients:
- Maize Starch
- Rice Flour
- Tapioca Flour
- Potato Starch
- Rice Bran
- Yellow Pea Flour
- Salt
- Vegetable Gums (Stabilizers): methylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, guar gum
- Raising Agent: Calcium Carbonate.
- Emulsifier: Vegetable Derived Monoglycerides
Nutrition Facts (per 100g of pastry mix):
- Calories: 348
- Total Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Alcohol: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 80g
- Dietary Fiber: 4g
- Sugars: 0g
- Protein: 4g
Non-Vegan Puff Pastry & Alternatives
Wewalka Puff Pastry European Bakery Style Dough
This family-run company uses high quality ingredients in their recipes. No bleached flour, animal by-products, high-fructose corn syrup, or hydrogenated oils. This puff pastry does not contain mono or diglycerides, but the label states it may contain traces of milk.
It may not be vegan-certified, but it is much healthier than Pepperidge Farm puff pastry with no artificial flavors or colors, no enriched flour, no hydrogenated oils, and no soy. Also, no thawing required. It is refrigerated dough that is the perfect thickness and ready for use in sweet or savory recipes.
Ingredients:
- Wheat Flour
- Water
- Palm and Canola Oils
- Ethyl Alcohol
- Contains 2% or less of:
- Wheat starch, wheat gluten, sugar, salt, citric acid, sorbic acid (preservative), ascorbic acid
- Contains: Wheat
- May contain traces of milk
Nutrition Facts (per 1/6 package 63g):
- Calories: 240
- Total Fat: 13g (20% DV)
- Saturated Fat: 6g (30% DV)
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg (0% DV)
- Sodium: 210mg (9% DV)
- Total Carbohydrate: 26g (9% DV)
- Dietary Fiber: less than 1g (3% DV)
- Sugars: 2g
- Protein: 4g
- Vitamin A: 0%
- Vitamin C: 0%
- Calcium: 0%
- Iron: 0%
Annie’s Organic Flaky Biscuits
These biscuits may not be puff pastry, but their flaky and light dough makes them very similar and it can still be used in place of it by rolling it out. Made with all the goodness of no artificial flavors, preservatives, hydrogenated oils or bleached flour, and certified organic ingredients. They are plant-based, but not vegan-certified, as they may contain milk ingredients.
Ingredients:
- Organic Wheat flour
- Water
- Organic Palm Oil
- Organic Cane Sugar
- Baking Powder (sodium acid pyrophosphate, baking soda)
- Sea Salt
- Organic Expeller-pressed Canola and Sunflower Oils
- Xanthan Gum
- Organic Wheat Starch
- Natural Flavor
- Contains wheat
- May contain milk ingredients
Nutrition Facts (per 1 biscuit 57g):
- Calories: 170
- Total Fat: 6g (8% DV)
- Saturated Fat: 2.5g (13% DV)
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5g
- Monounsaturated Fat: 2.5g
- Cholesterol: 0mg (0% DV)
- Sodium: 600 mg (26% DV)
- Total Carbohydrate: 26g (9% DV)
- Dietary Fiber: less than 1g (3% DV)
- Sugars: 5g
- Including 5g added sugars (9% DV)
- Protein: 3g
Final Thoughts
Pepperidge Farm Company was born when Margaret Rudkin, the founder of the company, decided to bake some all-natural whole wheat bread with vitamins and nutrients intact for her youngest son who suffered from severe allergies and asthma. At the time, puffy white bread dominated the market, but his condition made him unable to eat most commercially processed food. Pepperidge Farm Company may have had a healthy beginning; unfortunately, through the years it did not preserve those original practices in its food production.
Pepperidge Farm puff pastry is not very healthy and has questionable vegan labeling, but the good news is that there are many healthier alternatives available as listed in this article. Remember to always check the labels of food products and do more research as needed, as they are not always what they say they are.
Related Questions
Is Pepperidge Farm puff pastry nut free?
Yes, Pepperidge Farm puff pastry is nut free as the label does not list any nuts in its list of allergens.
Is Pepperidge Farm puff pastry gluten free?
No, Pepperidge Farm puff pastry is not gluten free as it contains wheat flour and malted barley flour.
Is Pepperidge Farm puff pastry kosher?
The Pepperidge Farm puff pastry label states it is certified kosher; however, this may need further research as the label also states they are vegan, but it contains ingredients that may be sourced from animal fats.
Is Pepperidge Farm puff pastry dairy free?
Yes, Pepperidge Farm puff pastry does not contain any dairy.