Are Takis Vegan?
If you've ever tried these spicy corn tortilla chips, you know just how addictive they can be! They come in seven popular flavors and, spoiler alert: some of these can be considered vegan, depending on how strict you want to be.
Keep reading to discover which Takis you can add to your list of snacks in your vegan lifestyle!
Common Ingredients In Takis
Not all Takis are made equal, that said, there are certain ingredients that are often used in Takis to give them their characteristic flavor. Check them out below!
Corn Flour
This ingredient is totally plant-based. No worries here!
Palm, Soybean, or Canola Oil
Soybean and canola oil are typically not a big concern for vegans. However, when it comes to palm oil, we must note that it can indirectly contribute to animal suffering. Find out why palm oil is bad for the environment here!
Citric Acid
Citric is almost always produced by fermenting either plants or fungi. So, this ingredient is totally suitable for vegans!
Sugar
Although it's derived from plants like beetroot or sugarcane, sugar is not always guaranteed to be cruelty-free. Find out why here.
Monosodium Glutamate
Some vegans consider MSG to be dangerous or unhealthy, but the fact is, it's totally vegan-friendly and is even naturally-occurring in some foods like nutritional yeast and tomatoes.
Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
Although there are some concerns about the sustainability of soy, this ingredient is totally animal-free. However, we do typically recommend going for organic or non-GMO soy products, which we highly doubt is what you'd find in Takis.
Yeast Extract
No need to worry about this one! Yeast extract is vegan-friendly.
Whey
Whey comes from milk, meaning it's a non-vegan ingredient. So, you'll want to stay away from Takis that contain whey.
Artificial Colors
Although artificial colors are manmade and contain zero animal ingredients, they're still a bit of a red flag for vegans. That's because artificial colors, including those found in Takis like yellow 6 lake and blue 1 lake, are frequently tested on animals to prove their safety for human consumption.
Silicon Dioxide
There are no animal products in this ingredient derived from a naturally-occurring mineral.
Disodium Guanylate
This ingredient can produced using animal-derived ingredients, however it is generally vegan.
Disodium Inosinate
Like disodium guanylate, disodium inosinate is typically vegan, however there is a slight chance it could've been derived from fish. Sadly, all but two Takis flavors (Takis Nitro and Takis Crunchy Fajitas, which contain whey) are made with this ingredient.
Types of Takis
If you've been discouraged by the ingredients listed above, you should know that not all Takis contain blatantly non-vegan ingredients.
However, as with most processed foods, their vegan status will depend on how strict your veganism is. Remember, nobody can be considered a 100% "perfect" vegan in this imperfect world, so it really does depend on where you draw the line.
Are Takis Vegan?
Not all Takis are vegan, however some may pass as vegan-friendly to some.
Are Blue Takis Vegan?
As mentioned in the name itself, Blue Heat Takis are blue, thanks to the artificial colorant Blue 1 Lake. This ingredient often undergoes animal testing, making it a questionable pick for some vegans.
Blue Takis could also potentially contain palm oil, and are made with disodium guanylate and disodium inosinate, which could both be animal derived. So, it's not totally ruled out, but proceed mindfully!
Are Takis Fuego Vegan?
The red flag ingredients in Takis Fuego include palm oil (possibly), sugar, artificial colors, and disodium guanylate/inosinate. So, simply be mindful about choosing this flavor.
Are Takis Nitro Vegan?
Again, Takis Nitro may get a vegan pass for containing zero confirmed animal-derived ingredients, however it does contain palm oil, sugar, artificial colors, and disodium guanylate/inosinate.
Are Guacamole Takis Vegan?
These Takis are one of the few flavors made with a 100% non-vegan ingredient. Guacamole Takis contain whey, which is derived from milk. This makes them unsuitable for those following an ethical vegan diet.
Are Takis Intense Nacho Vegan?
These Takis contain animal ingredients like gouda cheese and skimmed milk, making them okay for vegetarians, but not suitable for vegans.
Are Takis Dragon Sweet Chili Vegan?
Another potentially vegan pick, the ingredients you still want to watch out for in these include palm oil, sugar, artificial colors, and disodium guanylate/inosinate.
Are Takis Crunchy Fajitas Vegan?
These rolled corn tortilla chips are not suitable for the vegan diet, as they are made with whey.