Are InnoFoods Organic Dark Chocolate Keto Nuggets Vegan? (Ingredient Breakdown)

If you’re vegan, you might be wondering if the InnoFoods Organic Dark Chocolate Keto Nuggets are vegan. In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at the ingredient list of this product and provide some vegan alternatives. Stay tuned!

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Ingredients: (Organic*) Coconut, Dark Chocolate* (82%), (Unsweetened chocolate*, cane sugar*, cocoa butter*), Tapioca Syrup*, Sunflower Seeds*, Pumpkin Seeds*, Erythritol*, Quinoa*, Inulin*, Sea Salt, Natural Flavor, Xantham Gum.

Even though InnoFoods Organic Dark Chocolate Keto Nuggets is not labeled as vegan, its ingredient list does not contain dairy products or obvious animal products. However, it is unclear if the natural flavor used in this formula is vegan.

In this article, we explore:

The InnoFoods Brand
Does Unsweetened Chocolate Contain Dairy?
Does “Main Contain Milk” mean Dairy-Free?
Ingredient Breakdown: InnoFoods Organic Dark Chocolate Keto NuggetsThe Bottom Line
The Bottom Line

1. The InnoFoods Brand

Inno Foods is a Canadian company that specializes in all-natural, non-GMO snacks. The company was founded in 1982 in Vancouver by the Park family. Inno Foods’ first product was bread, but they later expanded their offerings to include coconut snacks. In 2017, Inno Foods launched in Costco USA, and by 2018 they were present in all Costco regions around the world. Today, Inno Foods has 400 team members and offers a variety of delicious snacks that can be purchased online or from leading retailers such as Costco, Loblaws, Walmart, London Drugs, Rexall, and Target.

2. Does Unsweetened Chocolate Contain Dairy?

One common misconception that many vegans have is about the ingredient “chocolate”. Many fear that chocolate automatically means milk chocolate. However, that is not the case. Unsweetened chocolate refers to a bar of solid chocolate made from two ingredients: cocoa mass and cocoa butter. This type of chocolate is vegan-friendly, as it does not contain any milk products.

3. Does “Main Contain Milk” mean Dairy-Free?

The lack of dairy in this product is also confirmed by the label, which says “May contain milk”. “May contain milk” labels are usually used on products that do not actually contain milk ingredients, but may have come into contact with milk during processing. This can happen if a food is manufactured in the same facility as milk products or if there is a chance of cross-contamination.

In other words, “May contain milk” indicates no milk is present in the ingredient list but that the company would not recommend a person with severe milk allergies to consume it to err on the side of caution. If you have a severe milk allergy, it’s best to avoid products with this advisory. However, if you have a mild allergy or are simply avoiding dairy for other reasons, such as veganism, this advisory likely won’t impact you since there are no actual milk ingredients present.

As such, vegans can rest assured that unsweetened chocolate is a safe and dairy-free option.

4. Ingredient Breakdown: InnoFoods Organic Dark Chocolate Keto Nuggets

Coconut is the base ingredient for this product. It gives the nuggets their chewy texture.

The dark chocolate used is unsweetened, which means it does not contain sugar. It also contains a high percentage of cocoa solids, which gives it a rich flavor.

Tapioca syrup is used to sweeten the product.

Sunflower seeds and Pumpkin Seeds add a nutty flavor to the InnoFoods Organic Dark Chocolate Keto Nuggets. They also add some nutritional value, being a good source of protein and healthy fats.

Erythritol is a sugar alcohol that is used as a low-calorie sweetener.

Quinoa adds a crunchy texture to the product, as well as nutritional value since it is high in protein and fiber.

Inulin is a type of fiber that is found in plants. It is used to add bulk to the nuggets and also has prebiotic properties, which means it helps promote the growth of healthy bacteria in the gut.

Sea salt is used to add flavor and balance the sweetness in the product.

Natural flavor is used to enhance the taste of the product. Natural flavors can be either vegan or not, and without more information on what specific flavors are used, it is unclear to the consumer if this ingredient is vegan-friendly.

Xantham gum is a thickening agent that is used to give the nuggets a chewy texture. It is also responsible for the nuggets’ glossy appearance.

5. The Bottom Line

This is a tricky one! Inno Foods makes a number of claims about their product on the packaging, including that it is USDA Organic, Non-GMO Verified, Gluten-Free, Keto Friendly, Kosher, and has No Artificial Flavors or Colors. However, they have not claimed that the product is vegan or plant-based.

Looking at the ingredient list, it is very likely that all the ingredients are vegan. No obvious animal products such as milk, gelatin, or eggs are used in this formula. The only ingredient that is unclear is “natural flavor”. This may be a vegan ingredient or not, but without further information on what flavors were used, the consumer cannot know.

It is possible that Inno Foods decided not to label its product vegan because it actually is not. Alternatively, it’s possible that Inno Foods has not yet started working on a vegan certification, but that the product is currently vegan. Without further information, it is difficult to say definitively which of these possibilities is more likely. However, given that vegan certification can take some time to obtain, it seems more likely that Inno Foods simply has not yet begun the process.

This leaves the decision of whether or not to purchase and consume the product up to the comfort level of each individual. For some, it may be best to avoid this product until Inno Foods begins the certification process and labels the product accordingly. Others may feel comfortable consuming the product as it stands.