Are Rice Krispies Vegan? (No, Here’s Why)


Is Rice Krispies Vegan

Kellogg’s Rice Krispies Cereal has a crackle, snap, and pop texture that is light and airy. Rice Krispies were originally created by Eugene McKay in 1927 and in 1928 the Kellogg’s company released the cereal to the public. The cereal is made by drying and toasting rice grains that are fully cooked. The high temperature of the toasting creates a thin and crispy hollow rice shell.  This hollow rice shell delivers the crunch and popping texture that makes this cereal a crunchy favorite, but is it vegan?

Unfortunately, Kellogg’s Rice Krispies is not considered vegan. It is not vegan is due to the addition of vitamin D3 to the puffed rice grains. Vitamin D3 is derived from sheep’s wool and is also known as lanolin. The best vegan and healthier alternative to Kellogg’s Rice Krispies cereal is Nature’s Path Organic Crispy Rice Cereal.

In this article, we will go over the nutritional values of Rice Krispies Cereals and treats, as well as a great vegan alternative. Let’s pop and snap on!

Non-Vegan Ingredients 

Let’s discuss why certain ingredients found on most top brand cereals are not vegan.

1. Why are Vitamin D and D3 not vegan?

Vitamin D supplements are added to many brands of cereals. The basic D3 vitamin additive used most widely is derived from sheep’s wool or lanolin. Strict Vegans avoid this supplemental ingredient as it comes from an animal source. Even though the animal is not harmed when shaving the sheep.  Or the lanolin is extracted without harm. An animal source is an animal source. Most brands of Raisin Bran include vitamin D3. Vitamin D food additive is not vegan.

2. Why is sugar not considered Vegan?

Refined sugar is often derived using bone char. Bone char is a process of using charcoal made from animal bones to make sugar white. Unrefined sugar such as beet and coconut sugar do not use a bone char process and are considered vegan. If sugarcane granules or powder is bright white this indicates that a bone char process was used in the making of it. This means that almost all white cane sugar is not vegan.

3. Why is most Palm Oil not Vegan?

There are some sustainably and ethically sourced palm oils on the market. In fact, more and more companies are looking to source this version. However, most palm kernel oil is harvested in deep plantations that are home to orangutans. The deforestation of palm plantations does displace orangutans from their homes. Technically, palm oil is vegan because it contains no animal by product and is a vegetable oil. Palm oil is the second most consumed oil worldwide and is second only to Soybean Oil. Unless the palm oil is sustainably sourced it is not vegan.

4. Is Gelatin Vegan?

Gelatin is made from extracting gelatinous and collagen rich fibers directly from the bones of animals such as cows and pigs. Making gelatin an animal by-product and not vegan.

Nutrition Facts for Kellogg’s Rice Krispies

Kellogg’s Rice Krispies Cereal

Here is a list of Ingredients for Kellogg’s Rice Krispies Cereal:

  • Rice
  • Sugar
  • Contains 2% or less of:
    • Salt
    • Malt flavor
    • Iron (ferric phosphate)
    • Niacinamide
    • Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride)
    • Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)
    • Vitamin B1 (thiamin hydrochloride)
    • Folic acid
    • Vitamin D3
    • Vitamin B12

Nutrition Information:

  • Calories 150
  • Fat 0g
  • Carbs 36g
  • Protein 3g

There are 150 calories per 40g of Kellogg’s Rice Krispies Cereal.

Kellogg’s Rice Krispies Treats

Rice Krispies Treats are not a cereal, but they are made using the cereal by Kellogg’s.

Here is a list of ingredients for Kellogg’s Rice Krispies Treats:

  • Toasted rice cereal (rice, sugar, salt, malt flavor, niacinamide, reduced iron, vitamin B2 [riboflavin], folic acid, D3)
  • Corn syrup
  • Fructose
  • Vegetable oil (soybean and palm oil with TBHQ for freshness)
  • Sugar
  • Corn syrup solids
  • Contains 2% or less of:
    • Vegetable glycerin
    • Dextrose
    • Gelatin
    • Natural and artificial flavors (contains milk)
    • Salt
    • DATEM
    • Acetylated monoglycerides
    • Soy lecithin
    • BHT for freshness

Nutrition Information:

  • Calories 160
  • Fat 2g
  • Carbs 17g
  • Protein .5 g

There are 90 calories per 78g of Kellogg’s Rice Krispies Treats.

Kellogg’s Cocoa Krispies Cereal

Here is the ingredient list for Kellogg’s Cocoa Krispies Cereal:

  • Rice
  • Sugar
  • Cocoa
  • Maltodextrin
  • Contains 2% or less of:
    • Malt flavor
    • Iodized salt (salt, potassium iodate)
    • Palm kernel oil
    • Natural and artificial flavor
    • Red 40
    • Yellow 6
    • Blue 1
    • BHT for freshness
    • Calcium carbonate
    • Vitamin C (sodium ascorbate)
    • Vitamin E acetate
    • Reduced iron
    • Vitamin A palmitate
    • Zinc oxide
    • Folic acid
    • Vitamin D3
    • Vitamin B12

Nutrition Information:

  • Calories 178
  • Fat 4g
  • Carbs 03g
  • Protein 22g

There are 178 calories per 42g of Kellogg’s Cocoa Krispies Cereal.

Besides the D3, palm kernel oil, and natural flavor rendering this cereal option not vegan. The addition of dyes, red 40, yellow 6, blue 1, make this cereal extra bad for you.

Kellogg’s Frosted Krispies Cereal

The ingredients for Kellogg’s Frosted Krispies Cereal:

  • Rice
  • Sugar
  • Contains 2% or less of:
    • Salt
    • Malt flavor
    • Iron (ferric phosphate)
    • Niacinamide
    • Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride)
    • Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)
    • Vitamin B1 (thiamin hydrochloride)
    • Folic acid
    • Vitamin D3
    • Vitamin B12

Nutrition Information:

  • Calories 150
  • Fat 0g
  • Carbs 35g
  • Protein 2g

There are 150 calories per 38g of Kellogg’s Frosted Krispies Cereal.

This cereal option has a GMO disclaimer about the grain crops used to make it. Besides the D3 addition this version of Rice Krispies would be vegan.

Kellogg’s Cookies & Creme Krispies

The ingredients in Kellogg’s Cookies & Creme Krispies are:

  • Rice
  • Sugar
  • Contains 2% or less of:
    • Salt
    • Rice flour
    • Malt flavor
    • Cocoa processed with alkali
    • Natural flavor
    • Iron (ferric phosphate)
    • Niacinamide
    • Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride)
    • Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)
    • Vitamin B1 (thiamin hydrochloride)
    • Folic acid
    • Vitamin D3
    • Vitamin B12

Nutrition Information:

  • Calories 160
  • Fat 0g
  • Carbs 37g
  • Protein 2g

There are 160 calories per 41g Kellogg’s Cookies & Creme Krispies.

The slogan for this cereal is to “bring a little magic to your day” with “cocoa flavored cookie bits and tasty crème flavor”. The ingredient list below does not contain any milk products. However, the D3 and natural flavor still make Kellogg’s Cookies & Creme Krispies not vegan.

Vegan Alternative to Kellogg’s Rice Krispies

Nature’s Path Organic Crispy Rice Cereal

Natures Path Organic Rice Crispy Cereal, 10 OZ Sweetened crispy brown rice cereal made with wholesome ingredients. Nature’s Path Organic Crispy Rice Cereal is the best vegan version of Rice Krispies available. Plus, it is organic, non-GMO, and gluten free!

The ingredients in Nature’s Path Organic Crispy Rice Cereal are:

  • Brown rice flour
  • Cane sugar
  • Sea salt
  • Molasses

Nutrition Information:

  • Calories 150
  • Fat 2g
  • Carbs 32g
  • Protein 3g

There are 150 calories per 40g Nature’s Path Organic Crispy Rice Cereal.

This is our choice for a vegan Rice Crispy cereal. The ingredient list is simple, with no fluff added, just snappy rice bits. Nature’s Path Organic Crispy Rice Cereal is also gluten free.

In Conclusion

The best vegan alternative to Kellogg’s Rice Krispies Cereal is Nature’s Path Organic Crispy Rice Cereal. Nature Path’s Crispy Rice is made with 4 ingredients that are easily recognizable. As well as certified vegan and organic.

Since Kellogg’s cereals have many mineral and vitamin supplements added to their cereals that are derived from animal sources. You really need to do your label reading homework to make sure that even the processes for those ingredients are vegan friendly.

Related Questions

Is Rice Krispies gluten free?

The answer is no. Since one of the main ingredients is malt flavoring which is derived from barley. Barley is not gluten free. Rice Krispies are not gluten free. And they are processed in the same machinery as wheat-based cereals.

Why is Natural Flavoring not vegan?

Natural Flavor is a broad term used on food labeling. Natural Flavor can be made from fruits, vegetables, wood, or eggs, poultry, and meats. Natural Flavors are produced by extracting the proteins and hydrolysate that contain the most flavor from the source. Again, the source of the flavor can be made from an animal product. It is hard to know. Unless the label says it is a vegan product, you may want to avoid this “natural” ingredient.

Where can I buy Nature’s Path Organic Crispy Rice Cereal?

You can buy it on Nature’s Path website or via iherb or Walmart.

What is DATEM in food?

DATEM stands for Diacetyl Tartaric Acid Esters of Monoglycerides. In simple language, DATEM is dough conditioning chemicals. Dough conditioners have been likened to plastic. Plastic in your food. You read that correctly. When DATEM is added to grain-based consumer packaged goods, it not only helps the food keep a longer shelf life, it also keeps the food item pliable or soft to chew.

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Choosing Nutrition Team

Here at Choosing Nutrition, our goal is to help people with making smarter food choices. Whether you're wondering about vegan, keto, paleo, or other diets, we'll help you determine which options fit your nutritional lifestyle. Our staff is composed of registered dieticians, nutritionists, and health-conscious individuals.

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