Trying to figure out if Act II Popcorn is vegan is a tough task.
Conagra Brands, which makes Act II Popcorn, masks the actual ingredients behind vague terms such as “natural flavor” and even when they do give you a full list, they never include how those ingredients were made.
To make sure you only eat foods that align with your vegan diet and ethical values, I’ve investigated the ingredients and Act II Popcorn’s manufacturing process. Here’s what I’ve found.
Is Act II Popcorn Vegan?
The answer is no. Most of their flavors have dairy in them. They do have some variants that do not use any animal products, but these are not labeled as vegan.
The main non-vegan ingredient in Act II Popcorn is milk, and milk is a big no-no for vegans because it is an animal by-product.
The “natural flavor” of Act II Popcorn also includes milk. This common ingredient in their food manufacturing is used to enhance the flavor of the product. If you’re looking for dairy-free microwave popcorn, make sure to pick up their kettle corn because it is the only flavor that is clearly vegan.
Is Act II Popcorn Cruelty Free?
Act II Popcorn is a cruelty-free product because they do not test their products on animals.
Conagra Brands are committed to animal welfare. They source their ingredients from suppliers that engage in practices that meet or exceed international animal welfare standards.
This is good news for those who follow a vegan diet for ethical reasons, but it’s worth noting that Conagra Brands do use animal products in their other products, such as frozen pizzas and hot dogs.
Of course, Act II Popcorn does use palm oil in some of its products. Palm oil is a controversial ingredient because it is linked to deforestation, climate change, and animal cruelty. Whether this ingredient makes Act II Popcorn not cruelty free depends on your personal ethics.
What Is Act II Popcorn Made Of?
Here are the ingredients of Act II Butter Lovers Popcorn:
- Popping corn
- Palm oil
- Salt
- Natural flavor
- Food color (annatto)
- TBHQ and citric acid
Let’s break down each ingredient of Act II Butter Lovers Popcorn:
Popping corn
Popping corn, also known as popping corn kernels, is a type of corn that expands and pops when heated. It does not contain any animal products.
Palm oil
Palm oil is an edible vegetable oil derived from the fruit of the African oil palm tree. It’s used in many products, including Act II Popcorn.
Palm oil, however, is a controversial ingredient linked to deforestation, climate change, and animal cruelty. It is not stated if the one they are using is sustainable or not.
Salt
Salt is a mineral composed of sodium and chloride. It’s used to add flavor or as a preservative. It is a vegan ingredient.
Natural flavor
Natural flavor is an ingredient made from plant, animal, or microbial sources. Most variants of Act II popcorn have milk in the natural flavor.
Food color (annatto)
Annatto is a food coloring made from the seeds of the achiote tree. It is used to give Act II Popcorn its yellow color. It does not contain any animal products.
TBHQ and citric acid
TBHQ is a preservative made from petroleum. It is an antioxidant used to extend the shelf life of Act II Popcorn.
Citric acid, on the other hand, is a weak organic acid found in citrus fruits. It is used as a preservative and an ingredient to add tartness or sourness.
Both ingredients are vegan.
Why Isn’t Act II Popcorn Vegan?
Act II Popcorn overall is not vegan because most of its flavors contain dairy. This is simply a no-go for vegans.
The main non-vegan ingredient in Act II Popcorn is milk. Traces of milk are found in most of their flavors with the exception of three flavors: Kettle Corn, Butter Lovers, and Llama Party (Cotton Candy).
The other ingredients in Act II Popcorn that may not be vegan friendly are the natural flavors and food colorings. The problem with these ingredients is that they could be derived from either plant or animal sources. It is almost impossible to tell which one is used unless the company discloses this information, which they often do not.
Is Act II Buttery Kettle Corn Popcorn Vegan?
No. Act II Buttery Kettle Corn Popcorn contains milk.
This product is not safe for vegan consumption.
Is Act II Extreme Butter Popcorn Vegan?
No. Act II Extreme Butter Popcorn contains non-vegan butter and milk.
This product is not safe for vegan consumption.
Is Act II Movie Theater Butter Popcorn Vegan?
No. Act II Movie Theater Butter Popcorn contains milk.
This product is not safe for vegan consumption.
Is Act II Homestyle Microwave Popcorn Vegan?
No. Act II Homestyle Microwave Popcorn contains milk.
This product is not safe for vegan consumption.
Is Act II Butter Lovers Popcorn Vegan?
Although Act II Butter Lovers didn’t list butter in its ingredients like in the Extreme Butter variant, Act II Butter Lovers popcorn likely has butter in its natural flavors. I can’t safely say that it is vegan.
Is Act II Kettle Corn Popcorn Vegan?
Yes! This variant is probably the only clear-cut vegan-friendly flavor of Act II Popcorn. It contains very few ingredients and none of them are animal products.
Is Act II Llama Party (Cotton Candy) vegan?
Yes. Act II Llama Party is vegan because it does not contain any animal products. It does have a couple of suspect ingredients, such as the natural flavors and Blue 1 Lake food coloring.
Blue 1 Lake is still being tested on animals. However, avoiding the color will likely not have any effect on the testing. So vegans can choose to eat this flavor or not.
The natural flavors could be derived from either plant or animal sources, but due to the nature of the flavor, it is likely that a non-animal product was used.
Vegan Alternatives to Act II Popcorn
Many brands now market foods that appeal to strict vegans. Here are a few that you can try instead of Act II’s vegan-unfriendly flavors:
- Orville Redenbacher SmartPop! Kettle Corn Popcorn
- Pop Secret Kettle Corn Popcorn
- Jolly Time KettleMania Popcorn
- Newman’s Own Sea Salt Popcorn
- Boom Chicka Pop Sea Salt Microwave Popcorn
- Skinny Pop Sea Salt Microwave Popcorn
Final Words
Act II Popcorn is a well-known brand of popcorn, but most of its products are not vegan. Milk is the main offending ingredient in most of its flavors. There’s also butter in some of the variants.
If you’re looking for vegan popcorn, look for their Kettle Corn flavor or one of the vegan popcorn brands above like, Skinny Pop Sea Salt Microwave Popcorn, Pop Secret, Jolly Time, or Orville.
But as always, check the ingredients list and nutrition facts panel to make sure that the product is 100% vegan.