Is Aussie style chocolate creme sandwich cookies Vegan?

The Ingredient Breakdown

As a food scientist, looking at the ingredient label for Aussie style chocolate creme sandwich cookies reveals a clear reliance on animal-derived products. The verdict is a firm NO for vegans, and here is exactly why.

The most obvious culprits are found throughout the Milk Chocolate coating and the Creme Filling. The chocolate contains Skim Milk Powder and Milk Fat. The creme filling is even more dense with dairy, listing Milk Powder, Whey Powder, and Lactose. Whey is a byproduct of cheese making, and lactose is milk sugar, making both strictly non-vegan.

Beyond the dairy, the recipe includes Sugared Eggs (listed as Eggs and Sugar) in the base cookie dough. Eggs are a standard binding agent in traditional cookies but are strictly off-limits for a vegan diet. Additionally, the Barley Malt Extract is often used for flavoring, and while barley is a plant, the malt is typically processed in facilities that handle dairy, though the primary issue remains the direct dairy and egg ingredients listed.

Finally, the Palm Oil and Palm Kernel Oil used extensively in the filling and coating are plant-derived, but they are often a point of contention for ethical vegans due to deforestation concerns. However, from a strict dietary standpoint, the dealbreakers here are the milk, whey, lactose, and eggs.

Nutritional Value

From a nutritional perspective, these cookies are designed as an indulgent treat rather than a health food. A standard serving contains a significant amount of calories, primarily derived from refined sugar and palm oil. The Total Fat content is high due to the combination of palm oil, cocoa butter, and palm kernel oil found in the creme filling.

Because the cookies contain Skim Milk Powder and Whey Powder, they also provide a small amount of protein, though not enough to consider them a protein source. The Sodium levels are moderate, contributed by the leavening agents like Sodium Bicarbonate. For those monitoring sugar intake, this product is high in Added Sugars, which fits into the 'sometimes' category of a balanced diet but should be limited if you are managing weight or blood sugar levels.