Is Sweet & simple cookies, salted caramel Vegan?

The Ingredient Breakdown

As a food scientist, I look beyond the marketing claims and dive straight into the formulation. When analyzing the Sweet & simple cookies, salted caramel, the non-vegan status becomes immediately apparent in the first few lines of the ingredient list. The primary culprit is the butter listed right after the vegetable oils. Butter is a classic dairy product derived from churning milk cream, strictly off-limits for vegans.

However, the dairy content doesn't stop there. The salted caramel drops are a complex mixture that includes lactose, whole milk powder, and reduced mineral whey powder. Whey is a byproduct of the cheese-making process and is frequently used in baked goods to enhance browning and add a creamy mouthfeel. Lactose, or milk sugar, is another distinct dairy marker. Even if the butter were removed, these three ingredients alone would disqualify the product from being vegan.

There is also a minor concern regarding the colors used in the caramel drops: Yellow 5 lake, Red 40 lake, and Blue 2 lake. While these are synthetic dyes, vegans sometimes debate their use due to animal testing practices, though the primary reason for the non-vegan verdict here is the undeniable dairy content. The presence of eggs in the "contains 2 percent or less of" section further cements the non-vegan status of this cookie.

Nutritional Value

From a nutritional standpoint, these cookies are designed as an indulgent treat rather than a health food. The base consists of unbleached enriched wheat flour and sugar, providing the bulk of the carbohydrate content. The fat profile is dominated by vegetable oils (palm and soybean) and the aforementioned butter, contributing to a high calorie count per serving.

Because of the salted caramel drops and brown sugar, the sugar content is significant. In a standard serving, you can expect a substantial amount of added sugars, which fits into a diet only as an occasional indulgence. The inclusion of dairy powders also adds small amounts of protein and calcium, though not enough to consider this a nutritional source. For those monitoring caloric intake or sugar levels, these cookies should be consumed sparingly.