Finding the best vegan snacks can be tricky, and that is usually when most people ask, “What chips have pork in them?”
Yes, pork chops, bacon, ham, and sausage are all derived from pigs, but so are footballs, heart valves, insulin, gelatin, burn dressings, and crayons. And chips are not an exception either.
The problem is that there is so much confusion about what chips truly contain.
And sometimes, many people confuse chips with rinds, which are essential pork skins. But, do chips have pork in them?
Many brands of chips you eat contain pork or products derived from animals, but they may vary greatly from region to region.
What Chips Have Pork in Them?
Snacks sold in pre-packaged form have exploded in popularity around the world, but mainly in the West.
These things can be found in a wide range of tastes and forms, but many contain a long list of additives.
So many of these ingredients are difficult to pronounce and may even be deceptive.
The truth is that to enhance the flavor, many chip companies resort to using animal fats in the production process.
But does that mean your favorite brand of chips uses pork as well? What about Doritos, Lays, Tuscan Herbs, or even Cheetos?
Fact: It is common practice to utilize gelatin, a substance made from pig bones and skin, to filtrate and clarify wine.
Do Chips Use Different Ingredients in Different Regions?
Absolutely! In fact, it is the most important thing to consider.
The reason is that some brands that may use pork as an ingredient in the US may completely avoid it when selling in a different market.
Therefore, where you reside may always affect this. In Europe, you may always check the label for a list of components.
But know that the same packaged food in different nations may not contain the same ingredients.
This is done so that a variety of flavors can be accommodated, as well as a variety of rules and even the availability of the ingredients.
Pig fat is unlikely to be used in any product in a country with a sizable Muslim or Jewish population.
What Do Most Chips Use as Ingredients?
The ingredient list may change a little depending on the flavor, but mostly, they remain the same, especially when you buy one in the United States.
The most common ingredients found in chips are:
- Whole corn
- Potatoes
- Vegetable oil
- Salt
- Cheddar cheese
- Maltodextrin
- Whey
- Onion powder
- Tomato powder
- Monosodium glutamate
- Artificial flavors
- … and more
As you can see, there is usually no need to use pork or other obvious animal products in the production of chips.
But that is not always a preferred choice for many manufacturers.
Since pork has a pronounced flavor, it is frequently used in the production of manufactured foods.
Fact: Pork is found in expected places, like sugar coatings, which sometimes occasionally include gelatin, and are common on many breakfast cereals.
Does Popular Brand of Chips Contain Pork?
When you talk about chips and packaged snacks, you will find an exhaustive list of ingredients based on a variety of flavors.
So, it is essential to pay close attention to all the ingredients listed in the package.
Do Doritos Have Pork in Them?
In the last two decades or so, Doritos’ popularity has skyrocketed. Simply looking at the product, one may assume it is vegan because it is a chip. But is it?
Snacks without animal products might be difficult to come by, especially if you follow a vegan diet or are otherwise health concerned.
Some Doritos varieties do indeed include a small amount of pork, even though it is not listed as such in the ingredients.
Porcine is responsible for this as it is the main component in many seasoning mixes.
However, some companies have stopped using porcine due to stricter regulations on manufacturing in the United States.
An Important Consideration
It is safe to say that Doritos made in the US do not contain pork, but it could be different in other parts of the world.
Most flavors such as Cool Ranch, Chili Cheese Nacho, Simply Organic, Chile Limon, Spicy Sweet Chili, and Wasabi are free of pork.
Note: While Doritos may not contain pork, they may still be unsuitable for vegans.
For instance, their Ranch flavors use ranch dressing, made using milk. Similarly, their cheese flavors may also contain dairy ingredients.
Are Tuscan Herb and Lay’s Parmesan Chips Free of Pork?
Unfortunately, both these brands contain animal fat. If you dig deeper into the ingredient list, you will find that they contain animal enzymes and animal rennet.
If you want to avoid pork, you may want to avoid Sour Cream and Baked Lays Cheddar Chips.
They are not vegetarian because of the presence of pig enzymes.
Does Cheetos Contain Any Pork?
You will love the zingy flavor of hot Cheetos if you enjoy spicy food. The perfect blend of cheese and spices makes these crunchy bites a fan favorite in many kitchens.
But exactly what goes into making hot Cheetos, and does it contain pork? Well, some of their products may not be safe for vegans.
Flamin’ Hot crisps, for instance, are a cornmeal snack spiced with cheese, and they may have porcine enzymes.
It is probably reasonable to presume that this flavor contains pork since it is not on the manufacturer’s list of products guaranteed to be pork-free.
Is There Pork in Sun Chips?
Yes, there may be pork enzymes present in Sun Chips.
Certain varieties of Sun Chips from the Frito-Lay brand used to include pork enzymes along with additional ingredients like cheese and herbs.
According to Frito-website, Lay’s “unique flavors” are created using pig enzymes in several of its seasoned snack products.
Fact: Animal fat, lard, hydrolyzed animal protein, animal glyceride, gelatin, and glycerin are some of the "terms" used to suggest the presence of pork.
Are Potato Chips and Rinds the Same?
So many people get confused when between rinds and potato chips because they both share the same loud “crisp”.
But, you need to know that they are different and rinds are certainly not for those who avoid pork. Rinds are essentially pork skin.
Traditional potato chips are typically very thin and flaky, but pork rinds are larger and more variable in form.
The corners of the pig skin begin to round as it cooks, creating the finished dish a light, crisp, and airy feel.
It is common knowledge that potato chips have a lot more salt than pig rinds.
That is mainly due to the myriad seasonings used to give potato chips their distinctive flavor.
Due to their origin (pig skin), however, pork rinds can only taste like, well, “porky.”
Are There Vegan Chips for Those Who Avoid Pork?
Whether throwing a party, getting ready for a road trip, or packing vegan lunches, you can always go for vegan chips.
Check out some of the most popular vegan chip brands to get your chip game on point.
Siete
The Sea Salt Tortilla Chips from Siete are grain-free and perfectly suitable for vegans. With these, you can easily make vegan nachos with all the fixings.
You can also get seasoned tortilla chips in a variety of tastes, such as Fuego, Nacho, and Ranch.
Sea Salt & Vinegar, Queso, Barbeque, and other flavors are available for their kettle-cooked potato chips.
Beanfields
Try Beanfields if you are looking for even more vegan chips to devour. Several tasty varieties of tortilla-style chips are available from the vegan brand.
There are a variety of flavors available, such as Sour Cream & Onion, Nacho, and Pico de Gallo.
You just cannot get enough of them with your burgers and sandwiches, but they also make a great snack on their own.
From the Ground Up
Vegetable chips, you say?
It is all we can think about! You can trust Ground Up for an abundance of vegan chips in addition to pretzels, crackers, and stalks.
Cauliflower and butternut squash is used in the production of the brand’s tortilla chips, which come in a variety of tastes such as Nacho, Sea Salt, and Lime.
There are also potato chips that incorporate other vegetables, such as beet, carrot, cauliflower, and broccoli.
Fact: Always look for a "V-label" suggesting the product does not contain any animal-derived ingredients.
Takeaway
What chips have pork in them? Well, quite a few may fall into that category, and they are off-limits for vegans for obvious reasons.
But, keep in mind that the same brand may use different ingredients in the same products geared towards different markets.
So consider your region before drawing a conclusion. And remember, when in doubt, you can always switch to vegan chips to enjoy the crunch safely.