Brits love crisps. And as demand for plant-based food continues to grow, the number of independent and mainstream brands offering vegan crisps is increasing, too.
Potato chips, or crisps, have been mass-produced for at-home consumption since the early 1900s in both the U.S. and in the UK. Traditionally, crisps are exclusively thin-cut potatoes, but the popular definition of the word crisps can also be said to include corn, maize, and other grain-based snacks.
According to The Guardian, British shoppers consume around six billion packets of crisps every year. That’s significantly more than the rest of Europe put together, and doesn’t include the 4.4 billion other savory snacks — such as crackers and nuts — that are almost as popular.
Market research firm Mintel has said that almost 25 percent of all UK food launches in 2019 were labeled vegan. While Christmas 2020 and Veganuary 2021 saw an unprecedented range of plant-based meals, ingredients, snacks, and more reach supermarket shelves.
Nearly eight million Brits ate more vegan food since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. While Sainsbury’s has claimed that up to 91 percent of its shoppers are “flexitarian,” and regularly consume both animal products and plant-based food.
You might not think it, but crisps can be a minefield for those trying to avoid certain animal products. Here are some of the key ingredients to watch out for, and 99 vegan-friendly options for die-hard crisp fans.
Why put milk powder in crisps?
Milk and dairy-based ingredients top the list of things to look out for in crisps. Milk powder, whey, butterfat, and other dairy products are frequently used in crisp flavorings. They also crop up in a huge variety of other foods, such as bread, and even table sauces.
Lactose is a cheap bulking agent, but it can also impact the texture and consistency of products — such as bread and baked goods — or enhance the flavor. Popular snack manufacturer Walkers began adding milk derivatives to its various crisps around 2009 when it removed the flavor enhancer MSG (monosodium glutamate) from the ingredients.
While many dairy “themed” flavors such as cheese and sour cream actually contain milk, unexpected varieties such as salt and vinegar, pickled onion, and even some root vegetable-based crisps also include milk powder.
Dairy might be the most common animal-derived ingredient in crisps, but it’s not the only one. Some varieties can also contain meat extracts, animal fat, and even calf rennet, as part of the flavoring. Honey is also relatively common, particularly in luxury brands and flavors.
99 vegan crisp flavors you need to try
Fortunately, there are plenty of vegan crisps to choose from. Here are some of the best, most popular, and controversial (Marmite), flavors of crisps you can buy in the UK.
Walkers
Like many of these brands, Walkers periodically changes its recipes, so it’s always best to read the ingredients closely. Fortunately, sometimes these changes involve veganizing a previously unavailable recipe.
According to Instagram page Accidentally Vegan, Walkers just launched updated versions of its classic Salt & Vinegar and Prawn Cocktail flavor Quavers. Original, cheese-flavored Quavers remain vegetarian but not vegan.
- New salt & vinegar flavor Quavers
- New prawn cocktail flavor Quavers
- Ready Salted
- Prawn Cocktail
- Worcestershire Sauce
- Marmite
- Pickled Onion
- Salt & Shake
- Roast Chicken
- Sunbites Original
- Sunbites Sweet Chilli
- Sensations Balsamic Vinegar & Caramelized Onion
- Sensations Lime & Coriander Chutney Poppadoms
- BBQ Rib Flavor Doritos
- Lightly Salted Doritos
- Chili Heatwave Doritos
- French Fries Ready Salted
- Salt & Vinegar Squares
- Walkers Max Paprika
- Walkers Bugles Southern Style BBQ
Eat Real/Cofresh
Cofresh is the UK’s number one Indian snack producer and creates a wide variety of fully vegetarian and mostly-vegan crisps, mixes, and other savory snacks. It also produces health-conscious free-from snacking range Eat Real, made entirely from high protein ingredients such as lentils, chickpeas, and quinoa. Check out the full range here.
- Eat Real Lentil Sea Salt
- Lentil Creamy Dill
- Lentil Tomato & Basil
- Eat Real Lentil Chili & Lemon
- Hummus Sour Cream & Chive
- Hummus Chili Cheese
- Eat Real Organic Hummus Sea Salt
- Quinoa Paprika
- Quinoa Mediterranean
- Eat Real Quinoa Sweet Chili
- Quinoa White Cheddar Corn Puffs
- Quinoa Jalapeno & Cheddar Corn Puffs
- Eat Real Quinoa Sundried Tomato & Roasted Garlic
- Cofresh Chili & Lemon Grills
- Jalapeno Grills
- Chili & Lemon Poppadom Curls
- Cofresh Plain Poppadom Curls
Other brands
A variety of crisp and snack brands produce some vegan options. For many, ready salted and “plain” flavors make up the entire plant-based range. For others, such as Kettle Chips, there are specific vegan flavors that cater to dairy and meat-free consumers.
- Hula Hoops Original
- Hula Hoops Salt & Vinegar
- Twiglets
- Nik Naks Nice ‘n’ Spicy
- Scampi ‘n’ Lemon
- Rib ‘n’ Saucy
- Space Raiders Pickled Onion
- Pringles Original
- Sweet Chili
- Paprika
- Smokey Bacon
- Pringles Texas BBQ Sauce
- Original Pom Bears
- Tyrrell’s Sweet Chili & Red Pepper
- Lightly Sea Salted
- Sea Salt & Black Pepper
- Tyrrell’s Naked
- Tyrrell’s Veg Crisps
- Kettle Chips Sea Salt & Balsamic Vinegar
- Lightly Salted
- Sea Salt & Black Peppercorns
- Kettle Chips Vegan Sheeze & Red Onion
- Veg Lightly Salted
- Thai Sweet Chili
- Skips
- McCoy’s Ready Salted
- McCoys Sea Salt & Malt Vinegar
- Paprika
- Mexican Chili
- Wheat Crunchies Crispy Bacon
- Wheat Crunchies Worcester Sauce
Asda
British supermarket Asda produces a range of vegan-friendly crisps, including the popular Free-From Nacho Cheese Tortillas. Perfect with hot salsa.
- Ready Salted
- Salt & Vinegar
- Cheeky Monkeys
- Bacon Bites
- Potato Loops
- Asda Free-From Nacho Cheese Tortilla Chips
Aldi
Aldi also regularly changes its recipes, but typically several of its Snackrite snacks are vegan friendly. It also stocks milk-free crackers, snacks, nuts, and ready salted tortilla chips.
- Snackrite Monster Claws
- Original Stackers
- Sweet Chili Pea Snacks
- Teddy Faces Original
- Snackrite Hoops Ready Salted
- Passions Deli Thai Sweet Chili Lentil Curls
- Specially Selected Sea Salt & Lime Tortilla Chips
Tesco
Unfortunately, 80s favorites Monster Munch contain milk. But if you’re feeling nostalgic, Tesco offers its own version in the Pickled Onion flavor Monster Claws.
- Monster Claws Pickled Onion
- Bacon Rashers
- Bunny Bites
- Finest Ready Salted
- Finest Sea Salt & Cider Vinegar
- Tesco Finest Root Vegetables & Sea Salt
- Salt & Vinegar Sticks
- Lentil Curls
- Tesco Salt & Vinegar Crisps
- Stockwell Ready Salted Crisps
- Tesco Plain Tortilla Chips
- Tesco Tortilla Chips Hot Flavor
Sainsbury’s
Like other British supermarkets, Sainsbury’s has successfully veganized popular childhood snacks such as Frazzles (Bacon Crispies) and Onion Rings. It also offers a wide range of Taste the Difference luxury crisps, many of which are vegan.
- Sainsbury’s Ready Salted
- Sainsbury’s Bacon Crispies
- Sansbury’s Onion Rings
- Taste the Difference Sea Salt & Peppercorn
- Thai Sweet Chili
- Sea Salt & Cider Vinegar
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