Accidentally-Vegan Food Products

Confused about what you can and can’t buy in the grocery store? Check out this Namely Marly list of Accidentally Vegan Food Products so you can shop with confidence. You’ll be surprised by some of the products, like Oreos, pudding, cake mixes, and more, that made our list of foods that are accidentally vegan!

What is Accidentally Vegan Food?

Over the years, I’ve referred to things that are “accidentally vegan.” These are commercially-produced foods that weren’t intended to be vegan (aka, free of animal products), but as luck would have it, they are. That’s when it’s time to kick up your heels and do a happy dance. Not at the same time, though.

Here’s a list of some of my favorite accidentally-vegan foods products. Just so you know, sometimes your favorite accidentally-vegan products will change their list of ingredients. It’s never a bad idea to look from time to time to ensure they haven’t snuck in some dairy here and there.

Also, just because these are accidentally vegan doesn’t make them necessarily healthy. Be sure to read the labels and use these in moderation and in balance with lots of veggies and fruits! Salad anyone?

Box of Life Cereal
Life Cereal. Some other Quaker products are also vegan such as puffed rice & more.
Bag of Guittard Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
Guittard Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips. For other vegan chocolate chips, check out the Namely Marly Dairy-free Chocolate Chip Guide!
Image of Chick-o-sticks candy bars
I love using Chick-O Sticks as a replacement for Butterfingers Candy in my recipes. I’ve had trouble finding them lately, but I can usually purchase them at The Dollar Store…for a great price!
Box of Nabisco Oreo Cones
Nabisco Oreo Chocolate Cones. Use these in combination with your favorite vegan ice cream!
Image of Airheads Candy
Airheads Candy – Anyone ready to go see a movie?
Box of Cracker Jack Popcorn
Cracker Jack Original
Bag of Fritos
Fritos Original. I used Fritos in my Vegan Taco Cornbread Casserole.
Bag of Lays Classic Potato Chips
Lays Classic Chips
Box of Ritz Crackers
Ritz Crackers Original
Box of Wheat Thins Original
Wheat Thins Original
Hershey's Chocolate Syrup
Hershey’s Syrup
Bag of Oreida Tater Tots
Oreida Tater Tots
Bag of Oreos
We provide several recipes that use Oreos, including this Vegan Oreo Cheesecake and these Oreo Stuffed Vegan Brownies. Please note that I’ve received comments from readers that Oreos in the U.S. are vegan, however, some varieties in Europe may not be.
Box of Jello Cooke & Serve Pudding
I had no idea that Jell-O Pudding was dairy-free! And, in fact, the Instant variety is not, only the Cook & Serve. Add your favorite plant-based milk and you’ve got a nice, easy vegan pudding!
Box of Duncan Hines Cake Mix
Some Duncan Hines Cake Mixes are accidentally vegan, such as the classic yellow cake mix. The trick is making that cake mix without eggs in a way that tastes good. I’ve got a few examples for you, such as these Vegan Cake Mix Cupcakes or this Vegan Cake Mix Brownies.
Can of Duncan Hines Creamy Homestyle Frosting
Duncan Hines Creamy Homestyle Frosting
Jar of Smuckers Marshmallow Topping
Smuckers Marshmallow Topping is great on top of vegan ice cream!
Jar of Bac-Os Bits
We serve Bac-Os Bacon Flavor Bits over salads or on baked potatoes with some of our vegan cheese sauce!
Package of Grands Jr Golden Homestyle Biscuits
Pillsbury Grands Jr. Golden Homestyle Buttermilk Biscuits
Package of Pillsbury Crescent Rolls
Pillsbury Crescent Rolls
Box of Strawberry Unfrosted Pop-Tarts
Kellogg’s Unfrosted Pop-Tarts are accidentally vegan, but not the ones with the frosting. For some reason they add gelatin to the frosting. Gelatin is made from animal hooves. I have one word for that gross!
Pepperidge Farms Puff Pastry
Pepperidge Farm Puff Pastry Sheets. Use these Puff Pastry sheets to make Vegan Chocolate Croissants!
Package of Nutter Butter cookies
Nutter Butter Cookies. This is a new addition to the list. Either Nutter Butters changed their recipe or I just missed this on the ingredients list, but these are now vegan!
Box of Nabisco Graham Crackers
A lot of graham crackers are made with honey. We don’t have a problem eating honey (it’s a natural product and bee keepers do a great job caring for their bees). However, some vegans won’t eat honey. If you’re looking for a graham cracker made without honey, these are great! I use graham crackers to make pie crusts, for example this Vegan Banana Cream Pie.
Box of Chocolate Chip Teddy Grahams
We love the Teddy Grahams. Not only are they adorable, they’re accidentally vegan too! I used these in one of our favorite recipes, Vegan Chocolate Chip Teddy Graham Chocolate Chip Cookies. We had a lot of responses from folks not realizing the these are vegan. Note: Only the Chocolate Chip Teddy Grahams are vegan.
Sara Lee Cherry Pie
Sarah Lee Frozen Pie

Do you have any favorite accidentally vegan foods? Use the contact form to send me a note and maybe I’ll add it to my list too! 🙂

Accidentally Vegan Food and Ingredients by Namely Marly