Feeling Fruit-full? Discover if Fruit by the Foot is Truly Vegan!

Introduction

Are you looking for an afternoon snack that’s both vegan and tasty? Fruit by the Foot is a popular snack for kids of all ages, but is it vegan? It can be difficult to determine if a food is vegan or not because of the potential for hidden ingredients. In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look into Fruit by the Foot to answer this question and discover if this delicious treat is truly vegan!

Ingredients List

The first step to determining if Fruit by the Foot is vegan is to look at the ingredients list. According to Betty Crocker’s website, the ingredients list includes:

• From Corn Syrup
• Sugar
• Modified Corn Starch
• Pear and Apple Juice Concentrate
• Citric Acid
• Less than 2% of Glycerin
• Palm Oil
• Acetylated Monoglycerides
• Natural Flavor
• Color (Red 40, Yellow 5 & 6, Blue 1, Other Coloring from Fruits and Vegetables)
• Agar
• Vegetable Juice (for Color)

At first glance, there are no obvious animal products in this list. However, there are some ingredients that may be of concern to vegans. Let’s take a closer look.

Corn Syrup and Sugar

Corn syrup and sugar are both vegan ingredients. Corn syrup is a thick, sticky sweetener made from corn starch, and sugar is made from either sugar cane or sugar beets, both of which are plant-based products. Therefore, both of these ingredients are vegan-friendly.

Modified Corn Starch

Modified corn starch is a corn-based product that has been treated with acids or enzymes to change its properties. It is used as a thickener and stabilizer in many processed foods. It is also vegan-friendly.

Pear and Apple Juice Concentrate

Pear and apple juice concentrate are both vegan-friendly ingredients. They are simply concentrated forms of juice from the fruits they are named after.

Citric Acid

Citric acid is a weak acid found naturally in citrus fruits. It is used as a preservative and flavor enhancer in many processed foods. It is vegan-friendly.

Glycerin

Glycerin, also known as glycerol, is a colorless and odorless liquid that is produced from plant or animal fats and oils. Most commercially available glycerin is made from plant sources and is therefore vegan-friendly.

Palm Oil

Palm oil is a type of oil made from the fruit of the oil palm tree, which is native to tropical regions of Africa and Asia. It is widely used in many processed foods and is vegan-friendly.

Acetylated Monoglycerides

Acetylated monoglycerides are emulsifiers made from plant sources, such as vegetable fats and oils. They are vegan-friendly.

Natural Flavor

Natural flavors are ingredients that are derived from natural sources, such as plants, spices, and fruits. They are used to add flavor to processed foods. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), natural flavors may contain animal-based ingredients, so it is difficult to determine if they are vegan-friendly or not.

Food Coloring

Food coloring is used to give food its color. Red 40, Yellow 5 & 6, and Blue 1 are all vegan-friendly food dyes, while other coloring from fruits and vegetables is also vegan-friendly.

Agar

Agar is a gelatinous substance made from seaweed, so it is vegan-friendly.

Vegetable Juice for Color

Vegetable juice is a vegan-friendly ingredient that is used to give food its color.

Conclusion

Based on the ingredients list, all of the ingredients in Fruit by the Foot are vegan-friendly with the possible exception of natural flavors. Since it is difficult to determine if the natural flavors contain animal-based ingredients, vegans may want to avoid Fruit by the Foot until this can be confirmed. However, for those who are not concerned about natural flavors and want a tasty vegan snack, Fruit by the Foot is a great option!