Many people these days are choosing to eat a vegan diet for ethical, environmental, or health reasons. When transitioning to a vegan lifestyle, it can be challenging to find packaged foods and snacks that fit within vegan parameters. One popular snack food that people wonder about is Cosmic Brownie cereal – but is it actually vegan?
What is Cosmic Brownie cereal?
Cosmic Brownie cereal is a breakfast cereal launched in 2020 by General Mills. It is based on the popular snack cake, the Cosmic Brownie. The cereal consists of cocoa puffs meant to resemble miniature brownies, along with rainbow sprinkles.
Here are some key facts about Cosmic Brownie cereal:
| Manufacturer | General Mills |
|---|---|
| Release date | 2020 |
| Primary ingredients | Whole grain wheat, sugar, cocoa processed with alkali, palm oil, dextrose, salt, artificial flavor, color added, soy lecithin, and BHT for freshness |
Based on the ingredient list alone, it’s hard to determine if Cosmic Brownie cereal is vegan. Let’s take a closer look at the key ingredients and manufacturing processes.
Evaluating the main ingredients
Here are some notes on the main Cosmic Brownie cereal ingredients that could impact its vegan status:
Sugar
Sugar is generally vegan, unless it is processed with bone char. Many large companies like General Mills use bone char in sugar processing, so this is something to investigate further.
Cocoa
Cocoa beans themselves are vegan, but sometimes extra ingredients are added during processing. The cocoa in Cosmic Brownie cereal is “processed with alkali” – alkaline processing helps enhance the color and flavor. Sources of alkali can include egg shells or animal milk, so the alkalization method should be checked.
Palm oil
Palm oil comes from palm plants and is vegan. However, palm oil production is extremely controversial due to negative environmental impacts. Many vegans choose to avoid products containing palm oil.
Dextrose
Dextrose is a sweetener derived from corn starch. Since it does not come from an animal source, dextrose is generally vegan.
Salt
Table salt is vegan, unless it contains anti-caking agents derived from animal sources. Many table salts contain no animal-derived additives and are considered vegan.
Artificial flavors & colors
Artificial flavors and colors have the potential to be animal-derived. Common animal sources include glandular extracts, fish bladders, shellfish, or insect-based dyes like cochineal. The specific sources used by General Mills are not disclosed and should be investigated.
Soy lecithin
Soy lecithin acts as an emulsifier and comes from soybeans, so it is typically vegan.
BHT
Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) is a preservative derived from petroleum. It does not come from an animal source, so BHT is vegan.
Contacting the manufacturer
Because the ingredients listing alone does not provide enough information to determine if Cosmic Brownie cereal is vegan, the next step is to directly ask the manufacturer, General Mills.
Many companies provide information on website FAQ pages, or have customer service teams that can assist with ingredient queries. Contacting the company directly is the best way to find out their specific ingredient sourcing information and production practices.
General Mills has a form on their website for submitting ingredient-related questions. They also have an allergen information hotline and email for questions about ingredients in their products.
Checking certification labels
When buying packaged food products, checking for certification labels can also help identify vegan items. Here are some of the labels to look out for:
- Vegan – Certified by Vegan Action or other vegan organizations
- Vegetarian – Certified by Veggie Society or other vegetarian associations
- Non-GMO Project Verified – No genetic engineering, unlikely to use animal genes
- Certified Organic – Could indicate fewer animal byproducts, but certification standards vary
Currently, Cosmic Brownie cereal does not appear to be certified as vegan or vegetarian. It is also not Non-GMO Project Verified or Certified Organic.
Researching online communities
Another helpful strategy is to check online vegan communities to see if there is any discussion of whether a product is vegan. For example, on Reddit, Twitter, Facebook groups, or vegan discussion forums, you can search for the product name and see if other users have investigated its status.
Here are some examples of positive signals that a product is likely vegan from online communities:
- Direct confirmations from customer service representatives that the product is vegan
- First-hand reports that General Mills stated the cereal is vegan upon inquiry
- References to recent vegan certifications obtained by the product
- Lack of ingredients flagged as non-vegan in detailed reviews
From an initial search, there do not appear to be definite confirmations online yet that Cosmic Brownie cereal is vegan. However, it is also not being flagged as non-vegan, which is an encouraging sign. Deeper research into vegan online groups would be useful for gathering more data points.
Calling the company
If contacting the company directly by email or using their contact forms does not provide a clear answer on whether the product is vegan, the next step could be calling their customer service line directly. Sometimes it is easier to get detailed information speaking to a live representative.
When calling, be prepared with:
- Product name and identifying details
- Specific ingredient questions
- Request for definitive confirmation of vegan status
Taking detailed notes during the call can help ensure you capture all relevant information provided. If the representative confirms vegan status, request they email that confirmation as well for your written records.
Conclusion
Determining if mass-produced food products are vegan requires some detective work, since ingredient lists don’t always tell the whole story. Contacting the manufacturer directly, checking certification labels, researching online communities, and calling customer service are the best tactics for getting accurate vegan status information.
Based on the available information, Cosmic Brownie cereal has potential to be vegan, but definitive confirmation is still needed. Reaching out directly to General Mills seems to be the next step toward solving this cereal mystery!