Is popcorn vegan? The answer is that it depends. Read on to find out what non-vegan ingredients you need to look out for, and what popcorn brands are definitely vegan.
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It's easy to assume that popcorn isn't vegan. After all, the traditional movie theater style popcorn is flavored with butter. But, if you know what to look for, you can easily find vegan friendly popcorn.
In this article I'll cover what ingredients to look for that are non-vegan. I'll also give you a list of popular popcorn brands that are safe for vegans to eat.
How To Tell If A Popcorn Is Vegan
Popcorn is essentially just a special kind of corn kernel that pops when it's cooked. In its natural state, popcorn is 100% vegan. However, most store bought popcorns are flavored with seasonings, butter, and other ingredients (such as cheese) that are not suitable for a vegan diet. Here's a list of non-vegan ingredients to look out for when buying microwave or popped popcorn:
❌Butter
❌Cream
❌Cheese
❌Chocolate
❌ Buttered Toffee
❌Caramel
Of course, you can always pop your own popcorn at home using oil, but if you're looking to buy microwave or pre popped popcorn at the grocery store, these are the brands that are safe for vegans to eat. This list isn't exclusive, but I've covered the most popular brands (and flavors) that are safe for vegans to eat.
What Microwave Popcorn Brands Are Vegan?
- All Skinny Pop popcorn flavors are vegan, even the ones labeled cheesy.
- Tender White Popcorn
- Sea Salt Popcorn
Orville Redenbacher's Popcorn:
- Avocado Oil Popcorn
- Kettle Korn
- Smart Pop! Kettle Corn
- Naturals - Simply Salted
- Naturals - Light Simply Salted
- Kettlemania
- Simply Popped Sea Salt
- Healthy Popped Kettle Corn
- Sea Salt
- Lightly Sweet Kettle Corn
- Butter Lovers
- Kettle Corn
- Llama Party (Cotton Candy)
- Kettle Corn
- Sea Salt
- 94% Fat Free Kettle Corn
- Sweet ‘n Crunchy Caramel
- Sweet ‘n Crunchy Kettle Corn
What Popped Popcorn Brands Are Vegan?
- Sea Salt Popcorn
- Light Kettle Corn
Skinny Pop Vegan Popped Popcorn:
- Original
- Twist Of Lime
- Sea Salt & Pepper
- Sweet And Salty Kettle
- White Cheddar (yes, it's vegan!)
- Sea Salt
- Sweet And Salty Kettle Corn
- Chili Lime
- Cinema
- Cinnamon
- Sea Salt
- White Cheddar
Frequently Asked Questions
Ironically, most movie popcorns are vegan, but not all. Peta says that the popular USA cinema chain Regency Entertainment Group uses coconut oil, not butter, so it's vegan friendly. In addition, AMC is another popular theater chain that uses coconut oil instead of butter. Having said that, please be sure to check the ingredients in any popcorn you order at movie theater for non-vegan ingredients.
No, caramel is made with cream, butter and sugar, so caramel popcorn is not vegan.
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