Many people love the taste of Chipotle’s sauces but need to avoid dairy due to allergies or dietary restrictions. Chipotle offers a few dairy-free sauce options, but there is some confusion around whether their main red and green salsa contain dairy ingredients. In this article, we’ll take a look at the ingredients in Chipotle’s red and green salsas and whether they can be safely consumed by people with dairy allergies or on a vegan diet.
The Ingredients in Chipotle’s Red and Green Salsas
According to Chipotle’s website, the ingredients in their red and green salsas are as follows:
Chipotle Red salsa
- Tomato puree
- Chipotle peppers
- Onion
- Vinegar
- Salt
- Spices
Chipotle Green salsa
- Tomatillos
- Jalapeño peppers
- Cilantro
- Onion
- Garlic
- Lime juice
- Salt
As you can see, neither of these salsas contain any obvious dairy ingredients like milk, cheese, cream, butter, whey, casein or lactose. They are made from vegetables, vinegar, spices and salt.
Are the Ingredients Vegan?
Upon inspection, the ingredients seem to be entirely plant-based. All of the main components – tomatoes, peppers, onions, cilantro, garlic, lime, etc. – are vegan. The same goes for vinegar, salt and general “spices.” Chipotle has confirmed that both the red and green salsas are “vegan friendly.”
Some customers have expressed concern about the spices, wondering if they might contain anti-caking agents made from dairy. However, there’s no evidence to suggest that is the case. If non-vegan products were used in their spice blend, Chipotle would legally have to list “milk” or “dairy” as an ingredient.
Are the Salsas Safe for People with Dairy Allergies?
For people with dairy allergies, the biggest concern is cross-contamination. Even if the salsa ingredients themselves are dairy-free, they could potentially come into contact with milk proteins during storage, preparation or serving.
Chipotle kitchens use shared equipment and prep spaces when making entrees that do contain dairy, such as cheese and sour cream. However, according to Chipotle, their procedures prevent cross-contamination between menu items. They state:
“Our restaurants undergo an allergen audit before opening each day to ensure sanitation procedures have been completed and the facilities are ready to prepare ingredients and menu items safely without cross-contamination.”
Some good practices they have in place include:
- Dedicated utensils for preparing dairy and non-dairy items.
- Separating dairy and non-dairy items during prep.
- Changing gloves between handling different ingredients.
- Using separate lines and serving utensils for items with different allergens.
Their training videos also instruct employees to change gloves after touching dairy products and to use the tongs rather than their hands when serving salsas and other allergen-free items.
Warnings for People with Dairy Allergies
While Chipotle seems to take cross-contamination seriously, their kitchens are busy and there’s always potential for human error. People with severe dairy allergies should be aware of a few things:
- Ingredients can vary slightly between locations.
- Prep and serving practices may differ between individual employees.
- There may be a small risk of cross-contact with kitchen tools, surfaces, etc.
For those reasons, people with serious dairy allergies should use caution when consuming Chipotle’s salsas. Some recommendations include:
- Checking with the restaurant about their allergen practices.
- Asking employees to change gloves, use clean utensils, and avoid cross-contamination.
- Starting with a small amount to test for any reaction.
Other “Dairy-Free” Chipotle Sauces
In addition to their signature red and green salsas, Chipotle offers a few other sauces that don’t contain dairy:
| Sauce | Ingredients |
|---|---|
| Tomatillo Green-Chili Salsa | Green tomatillos, poblano peppers, jalapeño peppers, cilantro, onion, garlic, lime juice, salt |
| Tomatillo Red-Chili Salsa | Green tomatillos, red peppers, onion, garlic, lime juice, salt |
| Guacamole* | Hass avocados, lime juice, cilantro, onion, jalapeño peppers, garlic, salt |
*Guacamole does contain dairy by default. But you can order it “dairy-free” to omit the cream and cheese.
Again, while these sauces don’t contain obvious dairy ingredients, precautions should be taken by people with dairy allergies due to potential cross-contact.
Chipotle Sauces That Contain Dairy
On the flip side, there are some Chipotle sauces that do contain milk or milk derivatives:
- Chipotle-Honey Vinaigrette: Honey, cider vinegar, chipotle peppers, soybean oil, water, buttermilk, whey protein concentrate, egg yolks, romano cheese.
- Bacon Ranch Dressing: Ranch dressing (buttermilk, soybean oil, water, egg yolk, distilled vinegar, contains less than 2% of salt, garlic, sugar, monosodium glutamate, nonfat dry milk, dried onions, phosphoric acid, dried parsley, lactic acid, xanthan gum, disodium inosinate & guanylate, calcium disodium edta), bacon.
- Creamy Jalapeño Sauce: Soybean oil, water, jalapeño peppers, buttermilk, egg yolk, vinegar, contains less than 2% of salt, mono and diglycerides, natural flavors, potassium sorbate , xanthan gum, calcium disodium edta.
Vegans and people with dairy allergies will want to avoid those sauce options at Chipotle.
Conclusion
Based on an analysis of the ingredients, Chipotle’s red and green salsas do not contain any dairy products. The main components – vegetables, peppers, herbs, vinegar, etc. – are all vegan-friendly.
For people with dairy allergies, there is likely minimal risk of cross-contamination from the salsas due to Chipotle’s allergen handling procedures. However, precautions should still be taken due to potential issues with individual employees or kitchen practices.
Overall, Chipotle’s red and green salsa can be considered “dairy-free” for most people following a vegan or dairy-free diet. Just be aware of potential risks if you have a severe dairy allergy or sensitivity.