This article looks into one of the most frequently asked questions regarding snacks that are vegan friendly: Are Wheat Thins Vegan?
Yes! The Original Wheat Thins as well as most of the other Wheat Thins flavors are vegan! This even includes the Multigrain flavor of Wheat Thin’s Toasted Chips. Unfortunately, the one Wheat Thins variety that sounds the most vegan friendly (Garden Valley Veggie Toasted Chips) is not vegan-friendly since it includes a milk-based natural flavoring. It should also be noted that the some of the Wheat Thins products are produced in a facility that uses milk so some cross contamination could occur. Always check the label for cross contamination issues if you have a food allergy.
A breakdown of all the Wheat Thins flavors and varieties is below.
The original version of Wheat Thins is vegan. This has been confirmed by Peta’s “Top 20 Accidentallly Vegan Foods” post.
Ingredients
Whole Grain Wheat Flour, Unbleached Enriched Flour (Wheat Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate {Vitamin B1}, Riboflavin {Vitamin B2}, Folic Acid), Soybean Oil, Sugar, Cornstarch, Malt Syrup (from Barley and Corn), Salt, Invert Sugar, Monoglycerides, Leavening (Calcium Phosphate and/or Baking Soda), Vegetable Color (Annatto Extract, Turmeric Oleoresin).
The Hint of Salt (Low Sodium) version of Wheat Thins is vegan. This is according to the ingredients listed by Fooducate.
Ingredients
Whole Grain Wheat Flour, Soybean Oil, Sugar, Cornstarch, Malt Syrup (From Corn and Barley), Invert Sugar, Salt, Vegetable Color (Annatto Extract, Turmeric Oleoresin), BHT Added To Packaging Material To Preserve Freshness.
The Reduced Fat version of Wheat Thins is vegan. This is according to the ingredients listed by Fooducate.
Ingredients
Whole Grain Wheat Flour, Sugar, Soybean Oil, Cornstarch, Malt Syrup (From Corn and Barley), Salt, Invert Sugar, Leavening (Calcium Phosphate And/Or Baking Soda), Vegetable Color (Annatto Extract, Turmeric Oleoresin). BHT Added To Packaging Material To Preserve Freshness.
The Multigrain version of Wheat Thins is vegan. This is according to the ingredients listed by Fooducate.
Ingredients
Whole Grain Wheat Flour, Unbleached Enriched Flour (Wheat Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate {Vitamin B1}, Riboflavin {Vitamin B2}, Folic Acid), Whole Grain Barley Flakes, Soybean Oil, Sugar, Whole Grain Millet, Whole Grain Rye, Whole Grain Triticale, Molasses, Whole Wheat, Salt, Whole Grain Rolled Oats, Onion Powder, Soy Lecithin, Leavening (Baking Soda And/Or Calcium Phosphate), Cornstarch. BHT Added to Packaging Material to Preserve Freshness.
The Sundried Tomato and Basil flavor of Wheat Thins is vegan. This is according to the ingredients listed by Nutritionix.
Ingredients
Whole Grain Wheat Flour, Soybean Oil, Sugar, Cornstarch, Malt Syrup (from Corn and Barley), Salt, Invert Sugar, Leavening (Calcium Phosphate and/or Baking Soda), Tomato Powder, Sundried Tomato Powder, Garlic Powder, Spices (Including Basil), Onion Powder, Dried Red and Green Bell Peppers, Yeast Extract, Vegetable Color (Paprika, Annatto Extract, Turmeric Oleoresin, Paprika Extract), Natural Flavor, Caramel Color, Sulfur Dioxide and/or Sodium Metabisulphite (to Retain Color).
The Spicy Buffalo of Wheat Thins is vegan. This is according to the ingredients listed by Modelez International.
Ingredients
Whole Grain Wheat Flour, Soybean Oil, Sugar, Cornstarch, Maltodextrin, Malt Syrup (From Corn and Barley), Refiner’s Syrup Salt, Cayenne Pepper Sauce (Cayenne Pepper, Vinegar, Salt, Garlic), Leavening (Calcium Phosphate and/or Baking Soda), Tomato Powder, Garlic Powder, Citric Acid, Natural Flavor, Yeast Extract, Vegetable Color (Paprika Extract, Turmeric Oleoresin, Annatto Extract), Spice. Bht Added To Packaging Material To Preserve Freshness.
The Zesty Salsa flavor of Wheat Thins is vegan. This is according to the ingredients listed by Walmart.
Ingredients
Whole Grain Wheat Flour, Soybean Oil, Sugar, Cornstarch, Malt Syrup (From Corn and Barley), Salt, Refiner’s Syrup, Dried Green Bell Peppers, Leavening (Calcium Phosphate And/Or Baking Soda), Spices (Includes Parsley), Onion Powder, Garlic Powder, Citric Acid, Distilled Vinegar, Natural Flavor, Vegetable Color (Turmeric Oleoresin, Annatto Extract).
The Cracked Pepper and Olive Oil flavor of Wheat Thins is vegan. This is according to the ingredients listed by Amazon.
Ingredients
Whole Grain Wheat Flour, Soybean Oil, Sugar, Cornstarch, Malt Syrup (From Corn and Barley), Salt, Refiner’s Syrup, Dried Green Bell Peppers, Leavening (Calcium Phosphate And/Or Baking Soda), Spices (Includes Parsley), Onion Powder, Garlic Powder, Citric Acid, Distilled Vinegar, Natural Flavor, Vegetable Color (Turmeric Oleoresin, Annatto Extract).
The Ranch flavor of Wheat Thins are NOT vegan. This is according to the ingredients listed by Amazon which include Buttermilk, Cheddar Cheese Powder, Sodium Casinate, and Whey.
Ingredients
Enriched Flour (Wheat Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate {Vitamin B1}, Riboflavin {Vitamin B2}, Folic Acid), Whole Grain Wheat Flour, Soybean Oil, Sugar, Defatted Wheat Germ, Cornstarch, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Corn Syrup, Salt, Monoglycerides, Malt Syrup, Buttermilk, Leavening (Calcium Phosphate, Baking Soda), Dextrose, Tomato Powder, Onion Powder, Corn Syrup Solids, Monosodium Glutamate (Flavor Enhancer), Garlic Powder, Spices, Parsley Flakes, Cheddar Cheese Powder (Made From Cultured Milk, Salt, and Enzymes), Sodium Diacetate, Corn Flour, Artificial Color (Includes Red 40 Lake), Malic and Lactic and Citric Acids, Sodium Caseinate (A Milk Protein), Natural and Artificial Flavor, Whey, Disodium Inosinate and Disodium Guanylate (Flavor Enhancers), Soy Lecithin.
The Honey Mustard flavor of Wheat Thins are NOT vegan. This is according to the ingredients listed by Walmart which include “Honey Solids”.
Ingredients
Whole Grain Wheat Flour, Soybean Oil, Sugar, Cornstarch, Malt Syrup (From Corn and Barley), Refiner’s Syrup, Salt, Maltodextrin, Dextrose, Leavening (Calcium Phosphate And/Or Baking Soda), Onion Powder, Prepared Mustard (Distilled Vinegar, Mustard Seed, Salt, Turmeric (Color), Spices, Garlic Powder), Honey Solids, Citric Acid, Spices, Natural Flavor, Vinegar Solids, Vegetable Color (Turmeric Oleoresin, Annatto Extract), Yeast Extract, Sodium Diacetate (A Flavor), Lactic Acid.
The Chili Cheese flavor of Wheat Thins are NOT vegan. This is according to the ingredients listed by Walmart which include Sour Cream Powder, Cheddar Cheese, and Buttermilk.
Ingredients
Whole Grain Wheat Flour, Soybean Oil, Sugar, Cornstarch, Malt Syrup (From Corn And Barley), Salt, Whey, Onion Powder, Invert Sugar, Sour Cream Powder (Cream, Nonfat Milk, Cultures), Leavening (Calcium Phosphate And/Or Baking Soda), Garlic Powder, Tomato Powder, Natural Flavor, Cheddar Cheese (Cultured Milk, Salt, Enzymes), Spices (Including Chili Powder), Yeast Extract, Buttermilk, Citric Acid, Vegetable Color (Annatto Extract, Turmeric Oleoresin).
The Smokey BBQ flavor of Wheat Thins is NOT vegan. This is according to the ingredients listed by Instacart which include Honey.
Ingredients
Whole Grain Wheat Flour, Soybean Oil, Sugar, Cornstarch, Malt Syrup (from Corn And Barley), Salt, Invert Sugar, Leavening (calcium Phosphate And/or Baking Soda), Tomato Powder, Spices (includes Mustard), Garlic Powder, Yeast Extract, Fructose, Onion Powder, Honey, Vegetable Color (annatto Extract, Turmeric Oleoresin, Paprika Oleoresin), Citric And Malic Acids, Caramel Color, Natural Flavor (includes Smoke).
The Multigrain Toasted Chips version of Wheat Thins is vegan. This is according to the ingredients listed by Instacart.
Ingredients
Whole Grain Wheat Flour, Soybean Oil, Sugar, Cornstarch, Oatmeal (whole Grain Oats), Malt Syrup (from Corn And Barley), Salt, Leavening (calcium Phosphate And/or Baking Soda), Whole Grain Barley Flakes, Whole Grain Rye, Whole Grain Triticale, Whole Grain Millet, Onion Powder. BHT added to packaging material to preserve freshness.
Unfortunately, the Veggie Toasted Chips version of Wheat Thins is NOT vegan. This is according to the ingredients listed by Minimus.biz which includes Natural Flavor (Contain Milk, Celery).
Ingredients
Whole Grain Wheat Flour, Soybean Oil, Sugar, Cornstrach, Dehydrated Vegetable Blend (Contains Carrots, Onions, Cabbage, Tomato, Red And Green Bell Peppers), Malt Syrup (From Corn And Barley), Leavening (Calcium Phosphate And/Or Baking Soda), Salt, Maltodextrin, Hydrolyzed Corn And Yeast Protein, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Spices (Includes Mustard, Parsley), Monosodium Glutamate (Flavor Enhancer), Dried Pumpkin, Natural Flavor (Contains Milk, Celery), Vinegar Solids, Artificial Color (Includes Red 40 Lake, Yellow 5 Lake, Yellow 6 Lake, Blue 2 Lake), Olive Oil.
Summary
In total, 9 of the 14 Wheat Thins products evaluated were vegan friendly. Of those that are not vegan, the majority of them have the animal-based produce listed in the name or is a generally non-vegan flavor (ex. ranch).
The following Wheat Thins products are vegan-friendly:
- Original
- Hint of Salt (Low Sodium)
- Reduced Fat
- Multigrain
- Sundried Tomato & Basil
- Spicy Buffalo
- Zesty Salsa
- Cracked Pepper and Olive Oil
- Multigrain Toasted Chips
The following Wheat Thins products are NOT vegan-friendly:
- Ranch
- Honey Mustard
- Chili Cheese
- Smokey BBQ
- Garden Valley Veggie Toasted Chips
You can read about other vegan snack options here.
