Pepsi sells a wide range of sodas, juices, and beverages. However, a few ingredients are commonly used in beverages that are not vegan.
Pepsi is one of the most popular sodas, and PepsiCo also makes many prevalent snack foods.
In this article, I will explain why Pepsi products are vegan.
According to the official Pepsi website, Pepsi sodas sold in the USA are not vegan.
But, all Pepsi flavors sold in the UK are vegan, except Diet Pepsi.
There are only 2 other beverages that PepsiCo makes, which are vegan. These are Fruitworks Cherry Freeze and Naked Coconut Water.
Pepsi also makes snack foods under the Frito-Lay division of their company. Many of these snack foods sold in the USA are vegan.
Below, I will cover what these are, why Pepsi beverages sold in the USA are not vegan, and if Pepsi beverages sold at fast food restaurants like KFC and Taco Bell are vegan.
Why Is Pepsi Not Vegan?
Because Pepsi sold in the USA is not vegan, but Pepsi sold in the UK is, I was curious why this is and what ingredients in Pepsi are not vegan.
I researched it by looking into the official statements made by Pepsi and what ingredients are commonly used in fizzy drinks that are not vegan.
Here is why Pepsi in the USA isn’t vegan.
Pepsi has not released any official statement about why Pepsi sold in the USA is not vegan.
Below are the ingredients commonly used in sodas that are not vegan.
The ingredients used in sodas that are not vegan are:
- Ester gum
- Vitamin D3
- Honey
- Natural flavors
- Cochineal
Of these, only ester gum, natural flavors, cochineal, and vitamin D3 are likely what is added to Pepsi beverages and causes them not to be vegan.
However, natural flavors are very rarely not vegan.
Honey will also be stated on the ingredient list of Pepsi beverages.
But virtually no Pepsi beverages are sweetened with honey.
Instead, sugar, corn syrup, and artificial sweeteners are used.
Non-vegan ingredients used in sodas [how they are made and why]
Here is a table showing how these products are made – except honey – which everyone knows, and why they are added to sodas.
Non-vegan ingredients used in sodas | How are they made | Why are they used in sodas |
Ester gum | It is made using glycerol derived from animals. Most commonly found in orange-flavored sodas. | They are used as a stabilizer. Stabilizers are a preservative to make beverages last longer. |
Vitamin D3 | Made using oil that is extracted from sheep’s wool | Primarily used in sports drinks. Used as a vitamin to improve the health benefits of sports drinks. Virtually never used in sodas. |
Natural flavors | Commonly these are vegan. Many different types can be derived from animal ingredients, but non-vegan natural flavors are rare. | It is used to modify the flavor. |
Cochineal | Extracted from bugs to make a liquid | Used as a red coloring. |
It’s possible to make your own soda yourself very quickly.
Here’s a video from Dr. Steven Gundry where he shows how to make your own soda – which is also vegan – with only 2 ingredients:
Snack Foods Made by PepsiCo That Are Vegan?
Snack foods are often made with various ingredients from animal products.
But, there are quite a few snack food products made by PepsiCo under the Frito-Lay division of their company that are vegan.
Here is what snack food products PepsiCo makes are OK on the vegan diet.
In general, EVOLVE, Health Warrior, NatuChips, and Popcorners snack food brands made by PepsiCo are vegan.
However, not all flavors of these brands are vegan.
Below is a complete list of all the vegan snack foods made by PepsiCo.
The vegan snack food products made by PepsiCo change from time to time.
Therefore, refer to this page on the official PepsiCo website, which lists all the brands, and which specific flavors and products are vegan.
Often snack foods are made in facilities that make other products, and therefore, they can contain traces of ingredients that are non-vegan.
However, they are vegan, according to PepsiCo, provided it’s on the list linked above.
Is Pepsi Sold At Restaurants Vegan [Fountains & Bottles]?
Pepsi beverages such as Pepsi, Mountain Dew, and 7Up sold at fast food restaurants such as KFC and Taco Bell often taste slightly different from bottled ones.
The beverages dispensed from the fountains are mixed onsite using soda water and syrup.
So, here is if the Pepsi beverages sold at restaurants are vegan options.
As a general rule, Pepsi served in cups, from the soda fountains, and bottles in the USA are not vegan.
But virtually all of the Pepsi beverages sold in the UK are vegan, except Diet Pepsi.
This includes Pepsi, Pepsi Max, 7Up Free, Tropicana Orange Juice, and Robinson’s Fruit Shoot.
The reason that this is the exact reason why cans and bottles of Pepsi beverages sold in the USA are not vegan.
Unfortunately, Pepsi does not disclose what specific ingredients are not vegan.
But, in my opinion, it is likely because it makes more economic sense for Pepsi to make their beverages non-vegan rather than use vegan ingredients.
Is Pepsi and Coke Vegan?
Pepsi and Coke are the two most popular cola soft drinks.
They are widely available in stores, but only one or the other is typically available at restaurants.
Here’s a full rundown of whether Pepsi and Coke are vegan and what beverages the Coca-Cola Company and PepsiCo make vegan.
- Schweppes Indian Tonic Water
- Schweppes Orange Squash
- Lilt
- Lilt Zero
- Honest Lemon and Honest Honey
- Glaceau Vitamin Water Zero – Multi V and Sunshine
- Barista Bros beverages
- Costa Coffee Ready-to-Drink Caramel Latte, Latte, and Americano (contain milk)
The Coca-Cola Company states on its official website that:
“The vast majority of our drinks, including Coca‑Cola, are suitable for vegetarians and vegans as they do not contain animal derivatives.”
A similar statement is found on the official Coca-Cola website for the UK and the USA.
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