Figuring out whether Barbecue Lay’s are vegan can be a bit tough.
Potato chips often contain ingredients that may be of animal origins.
To make sure you are only eating food that aligns with your vegan lifestyle, I’ve investigated the ingredients and production processes of Barbecue Lay’s potato chips.
Here’s what I found.
Are Lay’s BBQ Chips Vegan?
No. Lay’s BBQ flavored chips are not vegan friendly.
This potato chip snack may not contain animal-derived ingredients, but it does contain sugar that may have been processed with bone char.
Bone char is a type of charcoal that is made from animal bones. It is used to process sugar to make it white. This means that the sugar in Barbecue Lay’s potato chips may have been filtered through animal bones, which makes it non-vegan.
The good news is that there are plenty of other vegan-friendly chips on the market that you can enjoy without worrying about whether or not they contain animal products. While waiting for the crowd’s favorite Barbecue Lay’s to go vegan, try out some of these other options.
Are Barbecue Lay’s Cruelty-Free?
Yes. Barbecue Lay’s are cruelty-free products.
These BBQ-flavored potato chips are not tested on animals at any stage of production. This means that no animals were harmed in the making of Barbecue Lay’s chips.
PepsiCo, Lay’s parent company, has a policy in place that prohibits animal testing. This policy applies to all of PepsiCo’s products, including Lay’s potato chips.
So, you can rest assured knowing that no animals were harmed in the making of your favorite bag of Barbecue Lay’s chips.
What Are Barbecue Lay’s Made Of?
Here are the ingredients of Barbecue Lay’s:
- Potatoes
- Salt
Vegetable oil
- Canola
- Corn
- Soybean
- Sunflower oil
BBQ seasoning
- Sugar
- Dextrose
- Salt
- Maltodextrin (made from corn)
- Molasses
- Torula yeast
- Onion powder
- Spices
- Tomato powder
- Paprika
- Natural flavors
- Corn starch
- Caramel color
- Yeast extract
- Paprika extract
- Garlic powder
- Mustard seed oil
Let’s break down each ingredient of Barbecue Lay’s:
Potatoes
Potatoes are the main ingredient in BBQ Lay’s. They are a type of starchy vegetable that is often used to make chips. Potatoes are vegan-friendly ingredients.
Canola oil
Canola oil is a type of vegetable oil that is made from the crushing of canola seeds. Canola oil is a good source of omega fatty acids and is often used in chips. Canola oil is a vegan ingredient.
Corn oil
Corn oil is a type of vegetable oil that is made from the germ of corn kernels. It is a good source of vitamin E and has a high smoke point, making it ideal for frying foods. Corn oil is a vegan ingredient.
Soybean oil
Soybean oil is a type of vegetable oil that is made from soybeans. It is a good source of omega fatty acids and has a high smoke point, making it ideal for frying foods. Soybean oil is a vegan ingredient.
Sunflower oil
Sunflower oil is a type of vegetable oil that is made from sunflower seeds. It is a good source of vitamin E and has a high smoke point, making it ideal for frying foods. Sunflower oil is a vegan ingredient.
Salt
Salt is a mineral that is used to add flavor to food. It is also used as a preservative. Salt is a vegan ingredient.
Sugar
Sugar is a type of carbohydrate that is made from sugar cane or sugar beets. It is used to sweeten food and add flavor. Sugar is a vegan ingredient if it is not processed with bone char.
However, in the case of Barbecue Lay’s, it is not clear if the sugar used is processed with bone char or not. Until then, you should only assume that it is not vegan.
Dextrose
Dextrose is a type of sugar that is made from cornstarch. It is used to sweeten food and add flavor. Dextrose is a vegan-friendly ingredient.
Salt
Salt is a mineral that is used to add flavor to food. It is also used as a preservative. Salt is a vegan ingredient.
Maltodextrin
Maltodextrin is a type of carbohydrate that is made from cornstarch. It is used to add bulk and texture to food. Maltodextrin is a vegan ingredient.
Molasses
Molasses is a type of syrup made from sugar cane or sugar beets. It is used to sweeten food and add flavor. Unlike refined sugar, molasses is not processed with bone char and is therefore vegan. Molasses is already extracted from the sugar cane or sugar beet before the sugar passes through the bone char.
Torula yeast
Torula yeast is a type of yeast made from wood pulp. It adds flavor and texture to food. Torula yeast is a vegan ingredient.
Onion powder
Onion powder is a seasoning made from dried onions. It adds flavor to food. Onion powder is a vegan ingredient.
Tomato powder
Tomato powder is a seasoning made from dried tomatoes. It adds flavor and color to food. Tomato powder is a vegan ingredient.
Paprika
Paprika is a spice made from dried peppers. It adds flavor and color to food. Paprika is a vegan ingredient.
Natural flavors
Natural flavors are plant- or animal-based ingredients that are used to add flavor to food. Natural flavors can be either vegan or non-vegan depending on the source. In Barbecue Lay’s, it is not clear if the natural flavors used are vegan or not. Until then, you should only assume they are not vegan.
Cornstarch
Cornstarch is a type of carbohydrate made from corn kernels. It adds bulk and texture to food. Cornstarch is a vegan ingredient.
Caramel color
Caramel color is a food coloring made by heating sugars. It adds color to food. It is mostly derived from plant sources, but can also be derived from animal sources. Caramel color that is derived from animal sources is not vegan. However, it is not clear if the caramel color used in Barbecue Lay’s is derived from plant or animal sources.
Yeast extract
Yeast extract is a seasoning made from yeast. It adds flavor to food. Yeast extract is a vegan ingredient.
Paprika extract
Paprika extract is food coloring made from paprika. It is used to add color to food. Paprika extract is a vegan ingredient.
Garlic powder
Garlic powder is a seasoning made from dried garlic. It is used to add flavor to food. Garlic powder is a vegan ingredient.
Mustard seed oil
Mustard seed oil is an oil made from mustard seeds. It is used in very small amounts to add flavor to food. Mustard seed oil is a vegan ingredient.
Why Aren’t Barbecue Lay’s Vegan?
These BBQ chips aren’t vegan because they contain refined sugar.
The problem with sugar is that it is often processed with bone char, which is made from animal bones.
Not all refined sugar is filtered with animal bone char, but the majority of it is and until we have more information about the source of sugar used in Barbecue Lay’s, we can only assume that it is not vegan.
Most large companies source their sugar from many sources and it is often difficult to track where the sugar originates.
Are Lay’s Lightly Salted Barbecue Vegan?
No. Lay’s Lightly Salted Barbecue potato chips contain sugar, which may not be vegan.
This product is not vegan.
Are Lay’s Kettle Cooked Mesquite Barbecue Vegan?
No. Lay’s Kettle Cooked Mesquite Barbecue potato chips contain milk.
This product is not vegan.
Are Lay’s Poppables Honey Barbecue Vegan?
No. Lay’s Poppables Honey BBQ seasoning potato chips contain honey.
This product is not vegan.
Are Lay’s Stax Mesquite Barbecue Vegan?
No. Lay’s Stax Mesquite Barbecue potato chips contain milk.
This product is not vegan.
Are Lay’s Wavy Hickory Barbecue Vegan?
No. Lay’s Wavy Hickory Barbecue potato chips contain milk.
This product is not vegan.
Vegan Alternatives to Barbecue Lay’s
If you’re partial to the taste of smoky, sweet, and savory BBQ-flavored potato chips, many vegan-friendly potato chips will tantalize your taste buds. Here are some of my favorites:
- Jackson’s Carolina BBQ Sweet Potato Chips with Avocado Oil
- Popchips BBQ Flavored Potato Chips
- Popcorners Flex Barbeque Vegan Protein Chips
- Simply 7 Quinoa Chips Barbeque Flavor
- Siete Family Foods Chipotle BBQ Potato Chips
Most of these vegan-friendly brands are made with non-GMO ingredients and have no artificial colors or flavors. You can find these chips at most grocery stores or online.
Final Words
Sadly, as of the time of publishing, I cannot recommend BBQ Lay’s to vegan readers. The sugar in these chips may be processed with bone char, making them unsafe for vegan consumption.
Until Lay’s confirms that the sugar is either “raw,” “organic,” or “unrefined,” I recommend avoiding these chips or trying one of the vegan alternatives listed above.