Vegetarians and vegans, were you aware?

Question

of animal ingredients in many chips and snacks. I wasnt until recently. Here is a link
http://www.fritolay.com/fl/flstore/cgi-bin/ProdDetEv_Cat_306_SubCat_351852_NavRoot_361689_ProdID_359896.htm

Answer 1

You eat fish. Why do you care that there are animal ingredients in chips?

Answer 2

I know it costs more, but I encourage everyone to shop at a health food store. I don't trust the BIG TIME food corporations anymore. Along with animal ingredients, Frito-Lay and other brand name companies load up on MSG, high fructose corn syrup, "natural flavors" and other over-processed ingredients. Is it really necessary to add an animal product to their POTATO chip? It's a freakin' POTATO chip.

If craving chips and snacks, I suggest Kettle brand potato chips and Newman's Organics snacks.

Answer 3

Thank you. I avoid things like potato chips, anyway. I've never liked them, for one. (They were a rare treat when I was a kid, so I never developed a taste for them. I always thought they were too greasy and they cut my gums and the roof of my mouth. I once told my husband's older sister that I didn't like them [in their parents' house one is much more likely to find potato chips rather than potatoes] and she called me weird. Although, she could have been referring to my having gone vegetarian. I thought, "You're one to talk.") Also, I don't know why they have to take a perfectly good potato and ruin it.

I never gave much thought to "natural flavorings" until I read "Fast Food Nation" a year ago. I had already given up on fast food, and knew from where meat comes, but it was still an interesting eye-opener. I'd like to see the movie and read the kids' version.

Even before reading the book, I was (am) anal about reading food labels and with the wealth of information available, I wonder how people can buy some stuff. (I like peeking into others' carts.)

Answer 4

Thank you for the link, very helpful.

When in the store, I read the ingredients. However, when at the vending machine, I make the best choice I can. Obviously, cheesy chips are out, but what about the garden salsa flavored stuff? I got some Sun Chips, garden salsa flavored. I thought "This doesn't seem like it has animal products in it," and lo and behold, the ingredients said "cheddar cheese." Dang!

Again, thanx for the link.

Answer 5

I looked at that webpage, and it's true, animal products can come under the heading "natural flavorings". One way to avoid this problem is to buy kosher, but then, not all kosher certification is of the same level, so one must learn more about it.
My question is that when I tried to find the page on my own, I did not find it listed under ingredient concerns. I am curious as to how you found that page.

Answer 6

I recently learned that "natural flavour" can mean anything...if it's not a common allergen, they don't have to say what it is. Most (if not all) Campbell's soups are not vegetarian, and pretty much anything from Lipton is evil as well.

Basically, if you want to be positive you're not eating something derived from an animal, don't eat processed food. That's that only way.

Thank you for that link! At least they post that info, unlike most companies that don't feel the need to disclose their ingredients.

Answer 7

I wonder why they use animal ingredients in making chips. Surely they could find some other way to flavor the chips.

Answer 8

A vegetarian that educated himself certainly knows this. Are you aware that there are animal ingredients in the fish pie YOU eat?

Answer 9

Chips from your local fish and chip shop are dipped in lard during manufacture to make them crisp when theyre cooked.

Answer 10

Thanks for the post! I had noticed that BBQ flavored Baked Lays has a meat product in it. I'm glad that some brands are forthright in their packaging. Some brands use the mystery term, "natural flavorings," which makes it very difficult to know if the product is vegetarian.