Is Apple Wildberry flavored Fruit Leather Wrap Vegan?

The Ingredient Breakdown

At first glance, the Apple Wildberry Fruit Leather Wrap seems like a vegan dream. The base ingredients are all plant-derived: ORGANIC APPLE PUREE CONCENTRATE, ORGANIC STRAWBERRY PUREE CONCENTRATE, and ORGANIC RASPBERRY PUREE CONCENTRATE. These provide the bulk of the flavor and texture. The binding agent is CITRUS PECTIN, a fiber found in fruit peels, which is a perfect vegan alternative to gelatin, a common animal-derived thickener found in other gummy snacks.

However, the issue lies in the ingredient NATURAL FLAVOR. In the food industry, 'natural flavor' can be derived from both plant and animal sources. While it usually originates from the named fruit (in this case, apple or berry), manufacturers sometimes use animal-derived extracts to enhance the flavor profile. Without specific clarification from the manufacturer regarding the source of this flavor, we cannot guarantee the product is 100% vegan.

Nutritional Value

Despite the vegan ambiguity, the nutritional profile of this fruit leather is quite clean. It is essentially dehydrated fruit puree sweetened with ORGANIC APPLE JUICE CONCENTRATE. This means the sugar content is entirely naturally occurring fruit sugar (fructose), with no added refined sugars or high-fructose corn syrup. It is also virtually fat-free and contains a small amount of dietary fiber from the fruit and pectin. For those monitoring their caloric intake, it serves as a lower-calorie alternative to candy bars, though the sugar content is still significant due to the concentration of fruit juices.