Are Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Vegan?
Although Krispy Kreme’s doughnuts are typically ovo-lacto-vegetarian (meaning they’re suitable for vegetarians who consume dairy and eggs), they cannot be considered vegan or 100% plant-based. Let’s take a look at the ingredients that make up a classic glazed Krispy Kreme doughnut:
“Enriched Wheat Flour (Wheat Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Water, Palm Oil, Soybean Oil, Sugar. Contains 2% or Less of Each of the Following: Yeast, Soy Lecithin, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Salt, Mono and Diglycerides, Wheat Gluten, Calcium Sulfate, Monocalcium Phosphate, BHT, Dried Milk Powder, Egg Yolks, Cellulose Gum, Calcium Propionate (To Maintain Freshness), Ammonium Sulfate, Ascorbic Acid, Dicalcium Phosphate, Sorbitan Monostearate, Tocopherols, Tricalcium Phosphate, Diammonium Phosphate); Glaze (Sugar, Water, Corn Starch, Palm Oil, Calcium Sulfate And/Or Calcium Carbonate, Agar, Dextrose, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Salt, Disodium Phosphate, Locust Bean Gum And/Or Mono and Diglycerides”
So, unfortunately, even the simplest of Krispy Kreme Doughnuts contains milk and eggs. It also contains sugar, which is debatable for vegans, since this ingredient is sometimes refined using bone char. Palm oil is another tricky ingredient since its production is detrimental to wildlife habitats. And finally, “natural and artificial flavors” could mean they used extra hidden animal-derived ingredients.
We hope one day this popular doughnut chain rolls out some widely available and affordable vegan options, but for now, you can visit a delicious vegan doughnut shop in the U.S! Check out the full article on vegan donut shops here.
