Vegan Cereal List (2026): Which US Breakfast Cereals Are Vegan?

Most big-brand US breakfast cereals, and many Kellogg's cereals in Ireland and the UK, aren't vegan, and milk isn't the reason. The usual culprit is vitamin D3, added to fortify the cereal and usually made from lanolin, the waxy grease in sheep's wool. A few cereals also use gelatin or honey.

Cereals we've checked

Cereal	Status	What decides it
Frosted Flakes	Not vegan	Vitamin D3.
Apple Jacks	Not vegan	Vitamin D3.
Corn Pops	Not vegan	Vitamin D3.

Other popular cereals at a glance

These verdicts come from the US boxes as reported in the sources below. We'll add full pages as we check each one.

Cereal	Status	Notes
Froot Loops	Not vegan	Vitamin D3.
Cheerios (Original)	Not vegan	Vitamin D3. Cheerios sold in some other countries don't use it.
Honey Nut Cheerios	Not vegan	Honey, plus vitamin D3.
Cinnamon Toast Crunch	Not vegan	Vitamin D3.
Raisin Bran	Not vegan	Vitamin D3.
Lucky Charms	Not vegan	The marshmallows contain gelatin.
Frosted Mini-Wheats	Not vegan	Gelatin in the frosting.
Cap'n Crunch (original varieties)	Vegan	Some seasonal versions add confectioner's glaze.
Post Shredded Wheat Original	Vegan	Whole grain wheat, with nothing added.
Good & Gather Organic Frosty Flakes (Target)	Vegan	Organic corn, organic cane sugar and sea salt.

Cereals in Ireland and the UK

Cereal recipes differ between countries. Irish and UK boxes list allergens in bold and often just say "vitamin D" without stating the form, which usually means D3. These are commonly reported as vegan or not; check the box you buy.

Cereal (UK and Ireland)	Status	Notes
Weetabix (Original, Chocolate, Banana)	Vegan	Weetabix Minis and Protein versions may contain milk.
Shreddies (Original, Frosted, Coco)	Vegan	Check limited editions.
Shredded Wheat (Original, Bitesize)	Vegan	Whole grain wheat.
Supermarket own-brand bran flakes	Often vegan	Check for vitamin D3.
Kellogg's Corn Flakes	Not vegan	Vitamin D3.
Kellogg's Rice Krispies	Not vegan	Vitamin D3.
Kellogg's Coco Pops	Not vegan	Vitamin D3.
Kellogg's Frosties	Not vegan	Vitamin D (form not stated, usually D3).

How to check a cereal box

Look at the vitamins and minerals list. It's usually the last part of the ingredient panel. "Vitamin D3" or "cholecalciferol" means the box probably isn't vegan. "Vitamin D2" or "ergocalciferol" is fine.
Check the marshmallows and frosting. Cereal marshmallows and some frostings are set with gelatin.
Look for honey. It's obvious in "honey nut" cereals, but it also turns up in granolas and clusters.
Check sprinkles and shiny coatings. Some seasonal cereals use confectioner's glaze.

Unfortified cereals with short ingredient lists, such as plain shredded wheat and many organic store brands, are the safest choice.

Who makes these cereals now

Kellogg's US cereal business (Frosted Flakes, Froot Loops, Apple Jacks, Corn Pops) became WK Kellogg Co in 2023 and was bought by Ferrero in September 2025. Cheerios, Lucky Charms and Cinnamon Toast Crunch are General Mills brands. A new owner can mean a new recipe, so we re-check these boxes regularly.

FAQ

Why isn't cereal vegan if it has no milk in it?

Because of how it's fortified. Many US cereals add vitamin D3, which is usually made from lanolin, the grease in sheep's wool. The cereal has no dairy, but the vitamin comes from an animal.

Is vitamin D2 vegan?

Yes. Vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) is made from fungi or yeast. Vitamin D3 can also be vegan when it comes from lichen, but cereal makers rarely use that source or say so.

Are Cheerios vegan?

Not in the US. Original Cheerios are fortified with vitamin D3, which is usually lanolin-derived, and Honey Nut Cheerios also contain honey.

Is it fine to eat cereal with vitamin D3 anyway?

That's a personal call. The D3 is a tiny amount of a by-product, and some vegans accept it. We mark these cereals as not vegan because the ingredient comes from an animal, and we name it so you can decide.

Which cereals are vegan?

Unfortified cereals with short ingredient lists are the safest: plain shredded wheat, many organic store brands, and in Ireland and the UK, Weetabix, Shreddies and Shredded Wheat.

Why isn't cereal vegan if it has no milk?

Because of the added vitamins. Vitamin D3 is usually made from lanolin in sheep's wool. Some cereals also use gelatin in marshmallows or frosting, or honey.

Is Weetabix vegan?

Original, Chocolate and Banana Weetabix are commonly listed as vegan. Some newer versions, such as Minis and Protein, may contain milk.

Vegan Cereal List: Which US Cereals Are Vegan?