Are takis vegan? There is no short answer to this hottest query. They may or may not be vegan. Some experts declare takis as a vegan-friendly snack, but strict vegans disagree. Isn’t it a mystery?
Let’s explore in detail whether Takis are vegan.
What are Takis?
Takis are wrapped tortilla chips packed with extra spice. Crunchy, spicy, oh-so-fun, but second to none!
Strong flavor and crunchiness of Takis are addictive. Initially, Takis spiced up the markets in 1990 as tortilla chips. Over time, they morphed into tortilla corn strips, popcorn, potato chips, and nuts. Luckily, most varieties of Takis have plant based origins, suitable for vegans and vegetarians.
As a vegan, you may wonder, are takis vegan and which flavors of Takis are vegan. Let’s explore this now!
Are Takis Vegan?
The short answer to the most commonly discussed answer, “are takis vegan?” is yes! Takis are vegan. But a few health experts say otherwise; let’s explore why!
You have good news and bad news. Not too bad, relax! Good news first, all ingredients in takis are vegan. There is no animal content in vegan.
Now, bad news for hard vegans – Takis contain sugar, which is refined with bone char. Bone char is obtained from animals. Sugar itself is vegan but the chemical used in refining sugar is non-vegan. Only strict vegans would like to avoid it due to cross-contact with bone char.
Related: Are Oreos vegan?
Ingredients of Takis:
Ingredients of Takis depend on their flavor and location where you purchase the craziest vegan snack. Most ingredients are the same, but flavoring agents in each snack are different.
Let’s explore each ingredient in detail.
1- Sugar:
All flavors of Takis have sugar. Sugar is obtained from sugar cane and beetroot. Although this is a plant-based ingredient, its processing is questionable. Sugar from sugar cane is processed with bone char, while beetroot sugar is not.
Takis do not specify the source of sugar and how it’s processed. For this reason, strict vegans stay cautious.
2- Yeast Extract:
Yeast belongs to the fungi family. It is neither a plant nor an animal. It does not fall in the non-vegan food category.
3- Soy Products:
Soybean oil is a hydrolyzed form of soy protein that is one hundred percent vegan.
4-Artificial Colours:
Artificial colors are obtained from synthetic dyes and petroleum.
5- Canola and Palm Oil:
Canola oil is extracted from rapeseed and is rich in fats. Palm trees are a source of palm oil. Both are vegan ingredients.
6- Natural Flavours:
Natural flavors added in takis are vegan as they are also obtained from plants and fungi. A few flavors also come from non-vegan sources.
7- MSG (monosodium glutamate):
Some Fermented sugars are used as food additives. They include monosodium glutamate, disodium inosinate, and disodium guanylate.
8- TBHQ:
Tertiary butyl hydroquinone (TBHQ) is a food preservative that increases the shelf life of Takis. It also works as an antioxidant. TBHQ comes from petrochemicals.
9- Other Ingredients:
Other ingredients of Takis include onion powder, garlic powder, red chili powder, water, potassium chloride, black pepper, corn starch, and corn flour. All of these are vegan.
Which Takis are vegan?
Surprisingly, most takis are vegan. If you’re craving vegan tortilla chips, popcorn, or potato chips, Takis offers an amazing amalgam of crunchy ingredients. However, sugar in takis may cross-contact with bone char during refining. Strict vegans, beware!
- Fuego
- Crunchy Fajitas
- Stix Flare
- Kettlez Fuego
- Nitro
- Pop Caramel Crunchy (they do not have caramel, relax!)
- Kettlez Habanero Fury
- Blue Heat
- Stix Fuego
While choosing Takis, check the ingredients of takis. Some of them have higher sodium content, which can be harmful for people with heart diseases and hypertension.
Related: Is caramel vegan?
Which Takis are not vegan?
As you already know, all flavors of Takis are not vegan. A few varieties of Takis are not vegan as they are packed with animal by-products. As a vegan, you might want to avoid the following Non-Vegan takis:
- Pop Fuego
- Queso
- Hot Nuts Flare
- Crunchy Fajita
- Salsa brava
- Crisps Fuego
- Chipotle Ranch
- Kettlez Jalapeno Typhoon
- Nacho Xplosion Zesty Nacho Cheese
- Guacamole
- Hot Nuts Fuego
Most of these flavors contain milk, eggs, cheese, buttermilk, and whey powder.
Are Takis Healthy?
Although Takis are immensely famous all over the world due to their spicy taste and popularity, but health enthusiasts must be conscious of “are takis healthy?”
While eating Takis, you can not be confident about eating a healthy diet. Even Takis don’t have Halal certification. Vegans who want to eat halal, vegan snacks should avoid them.
Moreover, as discussed earlier Takis contain artificial flavors, chemical preservatives, and petrochemicals, which can be harmful to your gut health. Chilli and spices in takis may harm your stomach. It’s better to take healthy snacks if you’re conscious about your health.
The short answer is, moderate snacking with Takis may not be harmful to you, but for a few reasons, Takis are not considered healthy. Here are a few reasons Takis are not healthy:
- They are rich in sodium
- Highly processed and refined
- Lack essential nutrients
- Extremely spicy
- Irritates gut health
Healthy Alternatives to Takis:
You can try the following healthy alternatives to Takis:
- Fresh fruits
- Vegetables
- Salads
- Roasted chickpeas
- Cucumber with lime juice and tapatio sauce
- Homemade veggie chips
- Edamame
Are Takis Gluten Free?
Takis may have trace amounts of gluten due to cross-contamination with other foods during manufacturing. Gluten itself is not an ingredient of Takis. If you’re allergic to gluten or have celiac disease, it is better to avoid Takis.
Are blue Takis vegan?
Yes, blue Takis is vegan as they have vegan ingredients. Some strict vegans avoid them due to the usage of bone char in the processing of sugar.
Are Takis fuego vegan?
Yes, Takis fuego are vegan. They have lime, hot chili pepper, vegetable oil, corn flour, and other vegan ingredients.
Are Takis blue heat vegan?
Takis blue heat is vegan if we consider its ingredients only. Sugar in takis blue heat is processed with bone char, which is an animal by-product. A few experts consider it non-vegan due to cross-contact with bone char.
Are Takis waves vegan?
Takis Waves can be considered vegan. All ingredients of Takis Waves are vegan. They contain potatoes, soy proteins, spices, artificial colors, salt, flavors, yeast, vegetable oil, and preservatives.
Are Trader Joe’s takis vegan?
Yes, there are vegan trader Joe’s takis that are suitable for vegans and vegetarians. They contain chili, lime, vegetable oil, onion powder, and yellow corn. All ingredients are vegan-friendly.
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