Are Rice Krispies Vegan? No: Vitamin D3, Plus Treats

Snap, crackle and pop: Rice Krispies have one of the shortest ingredient lists in the cereal aisle. The one problem for vegans is the vitamin D3 added at the end. And if you're thinking of Rice Krispies Treats, those have a second problem: gelatin.

Rice Krispies ingredients explained

Rice Krispies are made from rice, sugar, salt and malt flavor, plus added vitamins and minerals.

Ingredient	Status	Why
Rice	Vegan
Sugar	Grey area	US cane sugar may be filtered with bone char. UK sugar isn't.
Salt	Vegan
Malt flavor (barley)	Vegan	Contains gluten.
Iron, niacinamide, B vitamins, folic acid	Vegan	Synthetic.
Vitamin D3	Not vegan	Usually made from lanolin (sheep's wool grease).

Rice Krispies products

Product	Status	What decides it
Rice Krispies cereal (US)	Not vegan	Vitamin D3.
Rice Krispies cereal (UK and Ireland)	Not vegan	Vitamin D (commonly reported as D3).
Rice Krispies Treats (bars)	Not vegan	Gelatin in the marshmallow.
Rice Krispies Multigrain Shapes (UK)	Check the label	Some flavors listed as vegan.
Coco Pops (UK)	Not vegan	Vitamin D3.

Why Rice Krispies Treats aren't vegan

Rice Krispies Treats are made by binding the cereal with melted marshmallows. Standard marshmallows are set with gelatin, made from animal skin and bones, so the bars aren't vegan or vegetarian. That's true of most homemade versions too, unless you use vegan marshmallows.

How to make vegan crispy rice treats

You only need three things:

Crisped rice cereal that isn't fortified with vitamin D3 (many organic brands aren't).
Vegan marshmallows, made without gelatin. Several brands sell them in supermarkets and online.
Vegan butter or coconut oil.

Melt about 300 g (10 oz) vegan marshmallows with 3 tbsp vegan butter over a low heat, stir in 150 g (6 cups) crisped rice cereal and a pinch of salt, and press into a lined 20 cm (8 in) square tin. Cool for an hour before slicing.

Why vitamin D3 matters

Cereals are fortified with vitamin D, which comes in two forms. Vitamin D2 comes from fungi and yeast and is vegan. Vitamin D3 is usually made from lanolin in sheep's wool, though a vegan lichen-based D3 exists. Kellogg doesn't say which it uses. Read more about vitamin D3.

Vegan alternatives to Rice Krispies

Unfortified organic crisped rice cereals, often labelled "crispy brown rice".
In Ireland and the UK, Weetabix, Shreddies and Shredded Wheat are commonly listed as vegan.

See the full vegan cereal list.

The bottom line

Rice Krispies are plant-based apart from the vitamin D3. Rice Krispies Treats add gelatin, so they're out for vegans and vegetarians. Make your own with vegan marshmallows instead.

FAQ

Are Rice Krispies vegan?

Not by our standard. They contain no milk, egg or honey, but they're fortified with vitamin D3, which is usually made from lanolin in sheep's wool.

Are Rice Krispies Treats vegan?

No. They're made with marshmallows, which contain gelatin, so they aren't vegetarian either.

Are UK Rice Krispies vegan?

UK and Irish Rice Krispies are also fortified with vitamin D, commonly reported as D3, so they aren't vegan by our standard.

Are Rice Krispies gluten-free?

No. The malt flavor comes from barley, which contains gluten.

Are Rice Krispies dairy-free?

Yes. The cereal itself contains no milk ingredients.

How do I make vegan Rice Krispie treats?

Use an unfortified crisped rice cereal, vegan marshmallows (made without gelatin) and vegan butter. Melt the marshmallows with the butter, stir in the cereal and press into a tin.

Are Rice Krispies Multigrain Shapes vegan?

Some UK flavors, such as Blueberry & Apple and Strawberry & Apple, have been listed as vegan. Check the current box for vitamin D3.

Are Rice Krispies Vegan?