Is Cinnamon Toast Crunch Vegan?

Famous for its delightful cinnamon swirl, satisfying crunch, and those cute cartoon squares many of us grew up watching in commercials, Cinnamon Toast Crunch continues its reign as one of the most popular breakfast cereals. But is it safe for vegans to consume?

This sweetly spiced General Mills cereal contains at least one ingredient that, for some plant-based eaters, makes it unethical to eat. Discover more about the vegan status of Cinnamon Toast Crunch in our guide. 

Why Cinnamon Toast Crunch Is Technically Not Vegan

Cinnamon Toast Crunch contains several ingredients that you would expect in a cereal, and most of them are vegan: whole grain wheat, rice flour, and, of course, cinnamon. Still, there’s one unexpected non-vegan outlier: vitamin D3.

Vitamin D3

Vitamin D helps our bodies absorb calcium and phosphorous, important minerals for bone health. Vitamin D3, also known as cholecalciferol, is found naturally in humans and animals but not in plants. The vitamin D3 listed in foods and supplements often comes from lanolin, which is extracted from sheep’s wool. Because there is no guarantee that the lanolin was extracted humanely from the sheep, vitamin D3 is considered not vegan.

Sugar

While most vegans consume sugar, this sweet ingredient still gives some plant-based eaters pause.

Sugar can come from either sugar beets, sugarcane, or both. While sugar beets are processed singularly—undergoing extraction, purification, and crystallization without the addition of non-vegan ingredients—cane sugar is sometimes refined with activated charcoal made of animal-based bone char. It is not always easy to determine what kind of sugar is used in processed foods, so most vegans don’t worry too much about consuming it from time to time. Still, some strict vegans may avoid foods containing sugar altogether.

Vegan Cinnamon Toast Crunch Products

Craving more than the traditional cereal flavor? Cinnamon Toast Crunch has a line of other food products, including variations of the original cereal, for those who can’t get enough of the sweet cinnamon flavor. While there aren’t many that are vegan, a few make the list. (Vegans avoiding sugar, though, beware.)

• Dulce de Leche Toast Crunch: Caramel lovers, rejoice. This dessert-like cereal contains sugar but not vitamin D3. 
• Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cake Mix (Original and Coffee Cake): While these cake mixes contain no animal products, both recipes call for eggs. However, if you’re crafty in the kitchen, you can put a plant-based spin on the recipe. 
• Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cinnadust: Sprinkle this on oatmeal, toast, and anything else you’d like. 
• Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cinnadust Glaze Snack Popcorn: Love kettle corn? You’re in for a sweet crunchy treat. 
• Cinnamon Toast Crunch Frosting: Great news: You can top your vegan version of the Cinnamon Toast Crunch cake (or any vegan cake) with this Cinnadust-flavored frosting.

Vegan Alternatives to Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cereal

If you are concerned with the inclusion of vitamin D3 in Cinnamon Toast Crunch, there are tasty alternatives available. The next time you’re in the cereal aisle, look for boxes labeled “vegan” so you can be absolutely certain your breakfast is cruelty-free. The following cereals are for cinnamon lovers only, but these brands carry other plant-based flavors, too. 

• Cascadian Farm Organic Cinnamon Crunch Cereal
• Nature’s Path Sunrise Crunchy Cinnamon Cereal
• Barbara’s Organic Puffins Cinnamon Cereal