People often eat chips and dip as a snack, and these store-bought vegan dips are so good that you’ll want to dip them twice. These dairy-free delights are a perfect plus-one with veggies, chips, and appetizers. Check out this list of vegan dips that are better than any spread made from cows that were mistreated by the dairy industry.
As a vegan, scanning ingredient labels has become second nature to me. I’ve learned to watch out for hidden animal products lurking where you’d least expect them. So when I spotted the famous Fritos bean dip on the grocery shelf, I wondered – is this creamy, bean-based snack really vegan? Or does it contain hidden non-vegan ingredients?
In this article, I’ll explore the vegan status of Fritos bean dip I’ll look at the ingredients, manufacturing process, and potential allergens to uncover whether it fits a plant-based diet. Let’s settle the debate on if this popular dip can be part of a vegan snack repertoire
An Overview of Fritos Bean Dip
For those unfamiliar, here’s a quick rundown on Fritos bean dip:
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Sold under the Frito-Lay brand, best known for chips
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Features a creamy blend of mashed pinto beans
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Includes spices like garlic, onion and chili powder
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Adds a kick of heat from jalapeño peppers
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Known for being smooth, hearty, and tangy
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Typically eaten with Fritos corn chips or veggie sticks
With beans as the starring ingredient, it certainly sounds potentially vegan. But we have to dig deeper to be sure.
Ingredients in Original Fritos Bean Dip
The best way to determine if a food is vegan is to examine the complete ingredient list.
Here are the ingredients in original Fritos bean dip:
- Cooked pinto beans
- Vegetable oil
- Water
- Jalapeño peppers
- Distilled vinegar
- Salt
- Spices
- Natural flavor (contains milk)
- Cheddar cheese
- Sugar
- Onion powder
- Whey protein concentrate
- Garlic powder
- **Natural flavor
- Malic acid**
Analyzing Potential Non-Vegan Ingredients
At a glance, some ingredients jump out as non-vegan. I’ve bolded them above. Let’s take a closer look:
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Natural flavors – Unfortunately these almost always contain dairy and/or meat products.
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Sugar – Most white sugar is filtered through bone char during processing, making it unsuitable for vegans.
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Malic acid – Often derived from animals or non-vegan sources.
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Cheddar cheese – Obviously contains dairy.
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Whey protein – A milk derivative, also non-vegan.
Based solely on these ingredients, Fritos bean dip is decidedly not vegan. Dairy components like cheese, whey and natural flavors disqualify it.
Contacting Frito-Lay About Sourcing
To complete my investigation, I contacted Frito-Lay’s customer service for more clarity on their troubling ingredients.
They confirmed that both the natural flavors and malic acid “may contain” dairy. And yes, their sugar is refined using bone char.
Examining Potential Allergens and Restrictions
Beyond vegan status, it’s helpful to understand what allergens and food sensitivities Fritos bean dip contains:
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Milk – Due to ingredients like cheese, whey and natural flavors.
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Soy – The vegetable oil may come from soybeans.
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Wheat – Some spices may contain wheat or gluten.
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Corn – The dip likely uses corn-based vinegar.
Fritos bean dip is unsuitable for those with dairy, soy, wheat or corn allergens. People following gluten-free, paleo and whole 30 diets should also avoid it.
The Verdict: Fritos Bean Dip is Not Vegan
After thoroughly examining the ingredients list, contacting Frito-Lay, and reviewing allergen information, the verdict is clear. Unfortunately Fritos bean dip is decidedly NOT vegan friendly.
The inclusion of cheese, milk derivatives, bone char refined sugar, and animal-derived natural flavors disqualify it from being vegan compliant. People following plant-based diets will need to avoid this dip.
Finding Vegan Bean Dip Alternatives
Don’t despair if you love bean dips! Here are some easy vegan alternatives:
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Make your own bean dip from scratch using pinto beans, vegan cheese, jalapeños and spices.
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Try store-bought vegan bean dips from brands like Good Foods, Snacklin’ and Hope Foods.
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Use hummus as a bean dip – brands like Sabra offer lots of flavor variety.
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Whip up vegan queso or cheeze sauce dips using potatoes or nuts as the base.
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Find recipes for creamy vegan dips made with avocado, edamame or lentils.
With a little creativity, you can definitely satisfy bean dip cravings on a vegan diet. Fritos may be off limits, but don’t fret – there are ample delicious options to dip your chips and veggies into!
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common FAQs about Fritos bean dip’s vegan status:
Why can’t vegans have natural flavors?
Natural flavors typically contain dairy, meat or other animal products. Only natural flavors certified vegan are allowed.
Is all white sugar non-vegan?
Regular white table sugar is often processed using animal bone char. Organic, vegan or beet sugar is a better choice.
Are jalapeños vegan?
Plain fresh or pickled jalapeño peppers are completely vegan! They add spice and flavor to many vegan recipes.
Could Fritos make a vegan bean dip version?
Absolutely – by omitting non-vegan ingredients like cheese and replacing others with vegan alternatives, they could easily develop a vegan formula.
Are any Frito-Lay products vegan?
Yes, a few Frito-Lay snacks like plain potato chips and tortilla chips are accidentally vegan – but the company doesn’t claim to make vegan food.
What ingredients make a product non-vegan?
Common animal-derived ingredients are dairy, eggs, honey, bone char refined sugar, carmine, gelatin and natural flavors.
Enjoy Vegan Snacking
While it’s disappointing that favorite Fritos bean dip isn’t vegan, there are still loads of plant-based chips and dips out there. With a bit of label reading and creativity in the kitchen, you can make totally delicious vegan snacks to enjoy!
Trader Joe’s Dips and Spreads
Snack on Trader Joe’s Vegan Kale, Cashew & Basil Pesto, or try it as a savory sandwich spread. The Garlic Spread Dip is a tasty topping on crackers. This store also has some other great dips, like Cashew Fiesta Dip and the Vegan Buffalo Style Dip, which is great for people who like things that are spicy.
The name speaks for itself. The almond-based dip brought to you by Bitchin’ Sauce is available in buffalo, green onion, green chile and pepita, spinach artichoke, and more varieties.
Mix things up and make your own dreamy dip. Some Simply Organic packet mixes are vegan, like the chipotle black bean, creamy dill, onion and chive, and French onion varieties. They taste great with vegan sour cream. Look for Simply Organic at your local co-op or health-food store.
A blender makes it easy to make your own hummus, and there are also many vegan options you can buy at the store, like Sabra.
Dip it, spoon it, and spread it—but you’ll never have enough of it. Guac rocks on everything. Several guacamole brands offer vegan options—try Yucatan Guacamole or Sabra Classic Guacamole with Lime.
Didn’t see a dip that dazzled you? Make your own with these yummy recipes.
Now that you’ve got the dip, you need the chips. There are a lot of popular chips that are vegan, so it’s always easy to find something to eat quickly.
When you have people over, what better way to show them how easy it is to be vegan than by giving them a tasty vegan appetizer?
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Pinky’s Vegan Spinach Artichoke Dip and Hot-Lanta Chik’n Dip
Pinky Cole, the owner of the slutty vegan restaurant Slutty Vegan, has now started selling two creamy and delicious nondairy dips at some Costco and Target stores.
All five flavors of Kite Hill’s vegan dips are made with almond milk, which makes them a better choice since cows don’t want to die for your dip. You can warm up the Queso and Spinach Artichoke dips or keep the Tzatziki, French Onion, and Ranch dips cool.
These cool and creamy dips are perfect for parties—just set some out with sliced veggies, chips, and crackers. Flavors include Ranch, Spinach & Artichoke, and French Onion.
All of your friends will be yelling “Cool beans!” over this chip dip. Put your chips in a smooth sea of refried Fritos beans.
WayFare’s vegan nacho cheddar cheese is nacho heaven.
Put some veggies in a bowl with Good Karma French onion or ranch dip and pass it around. If you spread good vibes, good things will happen to you too.