Is Sweet balanced breaks colby jack cheese Vegan?

The Ingredient Breakdown

To understand why this snack fails the vegan test, we have to look at the two main components that introduce animal products. The first culprit is obvious: the Colby cheese. The ingredient list explicitly starts with pasteurized milk, followed by cheese culture. Without milk, there is no cheese, and therefore, this snack cannot be vegan.

The second source of dairy is more deceptive. The peanut drops contain skim milk powder. These small, sugar-coated peanut bits are often mistaken for simple candy, but they are formulated with milk solids to create a creamy mouthfeel similar to white chocolate. Even if you were to pick around the cheese cubes, the peanut drops would still violate vegan principles.

It is also worth noting the presence of soy lecithin in the peanut drops. While soy is plant-derived, strict vegans sometimes avoid lecithin sourced from soy due to heavy pesticide use or processing methods, though it is generally considered vegan-friendly. However, the milk content is the definitive dealbreaker here.

Nutritional Value

From a nutritional standpoint, Sweet balanced breaks colby jack cheese is designed as a high-energy snack. The combination of cheese, chocolate, and sugar-coated banana chips results in a product that is calorie-dense. A single serving contains a significant amount of fat, primarily from the cheese and the oils used in the chocolate and banana chips.

The sugar content is another major factor. The banana chips, dark chocolate, and peanut drops are all sweetened, contributing to a total sugar count that might be higher than expected for a savory snack mix. While the peanuts provide some protein, the overall profile leans heavily toward a treat rather than a health food. It fits within a diet only if consumed in strict moderation as an indulgence.