Is Doritos Cool Ranch Tortilla Chips 3.13 Ounce Bag Vegan?

The Ingredient Breakdown

The base components of Doritos Cool Ranch—corn and vegetable oil (which can be corn, canola, and/or sunflower oil) along with maltodextrin (made from corn), salt, tomato powder, corn starch, corn syrup solids, sugar, onion powder, garlic powder, monosodium glutamate, dextrose, malic acid, natural and artificial flavors, citric acid, spice, disodium inosinate, and disodium guanylate are typically vegan in themselves. The presence of these plant- and mineral-derived ingredients is common for many flavored chips and does not automatically disqualify a product from vegan status.

However, the verdict for this bag is not vegan because the ingredient statement includes multiple milk-derived ingredients that clearly disqualify it from vegan diets. Specifically, lactose, whey, skim milk, buttermilk, cheddar cheese (milk, cultures, salt, enzymes), and sodium caseinate are listed. Sodium caseinate is a milk-derived protein used as an emulsifier, and the combination of milk ingredients with cheese makes the product non-vegan. Additionally, natural flavors can sometimes be dairy-derived on some product labels, which adds another layer of consideration for strict vegan consumers.

In summary, the dairy components are the primary reason this product fails vegan criteria. While many of the non-dairy components are vegan, the explicit dairy ingredients override that assessment and render the chips non-vegan for most vegan diets.

Nutritional Value

From a macronutrient perspective, calories, fat, and sodium are the primary concerns for this kind of snack. Doritos of this style are typically energy-dense due to the fried vegetable oil base and the starch-rich chips. They also contain sugar and corn syrup solids, contributing to the overall carbohydrate and sugar load. While there aren’t universal numbers to quote here, the general profile indicates a high-calorie, high-fat, and relatively high-sodium snack per serving. For those tracking intake, this makes it less suitable for weight control, high-sodium diets, or strict sugar limits. And for vegan consumers, the presence of milk-derived ingredients confirms it is not vegan, regardless of other macro considerations. If you are seeking a vegan alternative, opt for plain vegan-certified tortilla chips or homemade chips with vegan seasonings to control both nutrition and ingredients.