Are Rice Krispies vegan? When it comes to choosing breakfast cereals, you would assume that most are vegan. However, there are added ingredients in many cereal brands that are not vegan-friendly. In this post, I explain why Kellogg’s Rice Krispies cereals are not vegan, and some alternatives you can enjoy instead!
Who doesn’t remember the joy of biting into sweet marshmallowy Rice Krispie Treats as a kid? It’s one of those iconic recipes that immediately brings me back to my childhood.
Or, how about the snap, crackle, pop sound they make when you pour your milk on top of your bowl of cereal in the morning?
No matter who you are, you certainly know of the elves Snap, Crackle and Pop, and have memories of watching their commercials between your Saturday morning cartoons.
However, now that you’re older, and changed your diet, you may be wondering if this classic cereal is vegan-friendly.
Unfortunately, Kellogg’s Rice Krispies are NOT VEGAN!
For a complete list of over 70+ vegan cereal brands, be sure to check out my post all about vegan cereals.
That may come as a surprise, since at first glance, you may be wondering what ingredients could be added to them that would make them non-vegan.
Let’s take a closer look.
What is Rice Krispies Cereal?
Kellogg’s Rice Krispie cereal has been around for nearly 100 years! They came onto the scene in 1928. They are made of crisped rice that has been cooked, dried, and toasted, and then shaped to look like a small berry. When milk is added to the cereal they make the iconic snap, crackle, pop sound.
While a popular morning cereal, they are perhaps even more popular in the form of Rice Krispie Treats. The delicious, gooey, crunchy bar is made of rice cereal and melted marshmallows.
What is a vegan diet?
A vegan diet is one that excludes all animal products or animal-derived ingredients from one’s diet. This means no meat, poultry, fish, dairy products, eggs, or honey.
Instead, vegans eat foods that come from plant sources. This doesn’t always mean it is a healthy plant source, as they are many processed foods that are also vegan.
However, you will find that vegans eat the following:
- Fruits and Vegetables
- Nuts and Seeds
- Lentils and Beans
- Soy products such as tofu, edamame, and tempeh
What ingredients are in Kellogg’s Rice Krispies Cereal?
I’ve already told you that they are not vegan, but why? Let’s take a closer look at the list of ingredients.
- Rice that comes from white the grain variety.
- Sugar that is made in the United States and is not organic is refined using bone char. It is therefore safe to assume, that the sugar used to make Rice Krispies is not vegan.
- Salt for added flavor.
- Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride) is another vitamin added to fortify cereal.
- Malt Flavoring is normally made from barley, a grain. It adds a bit of sweetness in the form of malt flavor.
- Vitamin B1 (thiamin hydrochloride)
- Iron (ferric phosphate) is used to fortify foods such as cereals and bread.
- Niacinamide is one of the two forms of vitamin B3.
- Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) is a fortified ingredient.
- Folic Acid
- Vitamin D3 comes from lanolin. Lanolin is the oil that waterproofs sheep’s wool. Most synthetic vitamin D comes from lanolin.
- Vitamin B12
Why aren’t Rice Krispies vegan?
They are not vegan because they include Vitamin D3, which is clearly identified on their ingredient label. Vitamin D3 is derived from lanolin, which is the oil on sheep’s wool.
You may also see the ingredient Vitamin D2 listed which comes from plants. However, if you only see the ingredient Vitamin D, and it’s not specified D2 or D3, it is safe to assume it is D3, and therefore not vegan.
It is also safe to assume, that the sugar added is refined using bone char since it is likely made in the United States, and is not organic.
While the brand Kellogg’s Rice Krispies is not vegan, other similar rice cereals could be vegan.
Vegan-Friendly Alternatives to Kellogg’s Rice Krispies Cereal
Even though Kellogg’s brand is not vegan, there is more than one vegan option at grocery stores.
Nature’s Path Organic Crispy Rice Cereal: Made with vegan ingredients. Very similar to Kellogg’s brand in look, and taste.
365 Organic Brown Rice Cereal: Healthy simple ingredients made with brown rice which is higher in fiber.
365 Organic Cocoa Rice Crisps: This Whole Foods brand, is excellent in value and quality.
One Degree Brown Rice Crisps: Higher in fiber, since it’s made with brown rice. It’s also non-GMO, and gluten-free certified.
One Degree Veganic Sprouted Brown Rice Cacao Crisps: Similar to the one mentioned above, only with added cacao to give it a chocolate flavor.
Barbara’s Organic Brown Rice Crisps: Made with organic ingredients, and brown rice, it’s a healthy alternative.
How do you make vegan rice Krispies treats?
Check out my recipe for vegan rice Krispie treats!
Basic Ingredients
- Organic Vegan Rice Krispie Cereal
- Vegan Butter or Coconut Oil
- Vanilla Extract
- Vegan Marshmallows
Extra Ingredient Add-Ins
- Vegan Chocolate Chips
- Peanut Butter
- Almond Butter
Tools You’ll Need
- Parchment paper
- 8×8 baking pan
- Large Pot
Basic Instructions:
- Melt butter, marshmallows, and vanilla in a large pan.
- Add vegan rice Krispies cereal.
- Stir the marshmallow mixture to combine.
- Line an 8×8 pan with parchment paper.
- Press cereal into the pan.
- Allow to set.
- Cut into squares
- Store this classic treat in an airtight container at room temperature.
Final Thoughts
If you are looking for a vegan-friendly rice Krispie cereal that you can enjoy for your morning breakfast, or to make a vegan-friendly rice Krispie treat, look for ones that are certified vegan, organic, and ones that are not fortified with vitamin D. The key is to look out for the Vitamin D ingredient since it is likely derived from lanolin, an animal by-product.
More Helpful Vegan Tips!
- Vegan Plant-Based Grocery List
- Top 10 Vegan Kitchen Tools
- WFPB Diet: The Ultimate Guide to Start a Whole Food Plant-Based Diet
- Best Tofu Press for the Money
- Vegan Egg Wash
- Vegan Camping Food
If you have any additional questions, please comment below.
Winnie
I just have to say…announcing that VD3 is not vegan bc it’s derived from lanolin is ridiculous. Do u know how many foods are fortified with that? I am a vegan myself, and I’m also a dietitian, but to alarm people in such a way is silly. Vegan diets are restrictive enough, people don’t need to go around eliminating everything that has VD added. What about every single fortified non-dairy milk on the market? In essence, you’re also telling people not to wear anything made from wool. A bit extreme. Sheep aren’t killed or maimed by being shorn.
Alison Corey
I understand where you’re coming from. However, a vegan diet eliminates all ingredients that come from animals, and vitamin D3 comes from the oil in sheep’s wool, which means it is derived from an animal. Vegans don’t eat eggs or dairy, chickens are not killed to get their eggs, or cows are killed for their milk. So the argument that sheep are not killed or maimed from being shorn, does not really apply. The purpose of this article is to inform and provide my readers with all of the information available. Not informing them of lanolin in their cereal would not be giving them all of the information. Everyone can choose to eat what they want. If it doesn’t bother an individual that lanolin is in their food, then by all means they can eat it. We all have varying degrees of veganism. Some don’t wear wool, or silk, while other others make room for ingredients that blur the line.
Ellie
Thank you for making the article, but I feel like it might be a bit misleading. As a vegetarian, I wanted to know if rice crispies contained products derived from dead animals. You mentioned that D3 is animal-derived, and that’s helpful for people to know so they can decide if they want that in their diet. However, you didn’t mention products in Rice Krispie Treats that aren’t in the cereal itself, such as gelatin, which is derived from (usually pork) skin, ligaments and bones. I am okay with eating rice krispies cereal, but am against things like gelatin. I feel like it would be more helpful if you mentioned that.
Thank you for helping spread awareness and for sharing alternatives for people so they have options that align with their beliefs!
Alison Corey
Thank you for your comment. Fortunately, Rice Krispies DO NOT contain any gelatin, which is a hidden non-vegan ingredient in many packaged goods. The only questionable ingredient is D3, but many vegans do not have a problem with consuming D3.
Robyn
completely agree. It’s in the best interest of the sheep to be shorn it keeps them healthy. it’s not like they are killed for the lanolin or D3