Is Big Slice Kettle Cooked Apples Cinnamon Vegan?

The Ingredient Breakdown

As a food scientist, I always start with the source material. The primary ingredient here is Sliced Apples, which are naturally vegan. The apples are cooked in Apple Juice, serving as a natural sweetener and cooking medium rather than refined sugars or syrups that might be processed with bone char.

The spices are straightforward: Cinnamon is a plant bark, making it inherently vegan. The preservation and texture agents are where scrutiny is often needed. We see Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) and Citric Acid. Both are typically derived from fermentation of sugars (like corn or tapioca) and are standard in vegan food production.

The final thickener is Xanthan Gum. This is a common point of confusion. Xanthan gum is produced by fermenting sugar with a specific bacteria (Xanthomonas campestris). While the fermentation medium is plant-derived, the process is purely biological. It does not involve animal products, making it perfectly suitable for vegans.

Nutritional Value

From a nutritional standpoint, this product relies on the natural sugars found in apples and apple juice. While it contains sugar, it lacks the high-fructose corn syrup or added refined sugars found in many processed snacks. It is low in fat and contains no cholesterol.

For those monitoring their caloric intake, this serves as a better alternative to heavy desserts, though the sugar content should be considered as part of your daily total. It provides a serving of fruit, albeit cooked, which retains many of the fruit's original micronutrients like potassium and Vitamin C.