Cadbury hot chocolate may or may not be vegan. Some variants may not have animal-derived ingredients, making them technically vegan but with a cross-contamination warning for milk.
It is up to you to decide if you are okay with something having a “may contain milk” warning and coming from a brand that manufactures dairy items.
Cadbury Hot Chocolate Variants & Ingredients
According to Cadbury’s official website, there are 8 variants for Cadbury hot chocolate. Let’s see which of them is vegan.
Cadbury Drinking Chocolate: Vegan but with a may contain milk warning
Ingredients: Sugar, cocoa powder, acidity regulator (sodium carbonate), flavoring.
Cadbury Hot Chocolate Instant: Not Vegan
Ingredients: Sugar, whey powder (from MILK), fat reduced cocoa powder (13 %), glucose syrup, vegetable fats (coconut, palm), skimmed MILK powder, milk chocolate (4 %) (MILK, sugar, cocoa mass, cocoa butter, vegetable fats (palm, shea), emulsifier (E442), flavorings), thickener (E466), salt, MILK protein, anti-caking agent (E551), flavorings, acidity regulator (sodium carbonate), emulsifier (E471), stabilizer (E339).
Cadbury Hot Chocolate 30% Less Sugar: Vegan but with a may contain milk warning
Ingredients: Soluble maize fiber, cocoa powder (29%), sugar, acidity regulator (sodium carbonate), flavoring.
Cadbury Wispa Drinking Chocolate: Not Vegan
Ingredients: Sugar, skimmed MILK powder, maltodextrin, fat-reduced cocoa powder (7.5 %), glucose syrup, vegetable fats (coconut, palm, shea), MILK, thickener (E407), salt, modified starch, anti-caking agent (E551), flavorings (contain MILK), emulsifiers (SOYA lecithin, E471, E442, sunflower lecithin), MILK proteins, acidity regulator (potassium carbonate), cocoa mass, cocoa butter.
Cadbury Highlights Milk Chocolate: Not Vegan
Ingredients: Fat-reduced cocoa powder (28%), whey powder (from MILK), skimmed MILK powder, inulin, glucose syrup, milk chocolate (6%) (MILK, sugar, cocoa butter, cocoa mass, emulsifiers (E442, sunflower lecithin), flavorings, vegetable fats (palm, shea)), palm oil, salt, anti-caking agent (E551), flavorings (contains MILK), thickener (E407), MILK protein, acidity regulator (sodium hydrogen carbonate), sweeteners (sucralose, E950), emulsifier (E471), sugar.
Cadbury Highlights Fudge: Not Vegan
Ingredients: Whey powder (from MILK), fat-reduced cocoa powder (22%), skimmed MILK powder, inulin, glucose syrup, milk chocolate (6%) (MILK, sugar, cocoa butter, cocoa mass, emulsifiers (E442, sunflower lecithin), flavorings, vegetable fats (palm, shea)), palm oil, flavorings (contains MILK), salt, anti-caking agent (E551), thickener (E407), MILK protein, acidity regulator (sodium hydrogen carbonate), sweeteners (sucralose, E950), emulsifier (E471), sugar.
Cadbury Highlights Dark Chocolate (Bournville): Not Vegan
Ingredients: Fat-reduced cocoa powder (39%), whey powder (from MILK), skimmed MILK powder, inulin, glucose syrup, palm oil, dark chocolate (5%) (sugar, cocoa mass, cocoa butter, emulsifier (SOYA lecithin)), salt, anti-caking agent (E551), MILK protein, thickener (E407), acidity regulator (sodium hydrogen carbonate), flavoring, sweeteners (sucralose, E950), emulsifier (E471), sugar.
Cadbury Freddo Drinking Chocolate: Vegan with a may contain milk warning
Ingredients: Sugar, cocoa powder, acidity regulator (sodium carbonate), flavoring.
Verdict: Out of the 8 variants listed above, 3 (drinking chocolate, Freddo drinking chocolate, and hot chocolate with 30% less sugar) are vegan but with a cross-contamination warning. The cross-contamination warning means that these items don’t have animal-derived ingredients but are made in the same facility where dairy products are prepared.
Eating such items is your personal decision, as you have 100% control over what goes in your body.
Is Sugar in Cadbury Vegan?
Yes. All types of sugar made in the UK are 100% vegan. The English laws require all brands manufacturing eatables in the UK to use 100% organic sugar, which must be free from bone char. So, you don’t have to worry about sugar being non-vegan if you buy something imported from the UK.
Is Palm Oil in Cadbury Hot Chocolate Sustainable?
The palm oil used by Cadbury is 100% sustainable and obtained from cruelty-free farms. Mondelez International, owner of Cadbury, doesn’t use palm oil that isn’t sustainable. It started working on this in 2014, and by the end of 2019, 97% percent of palm oil sourced by Mondelez was traceable and sustainable. At present, all of the palm oil it uses is sustainable.
Vegan Hot Chocolate Substitutes
Vegans have plenty of options when it comes to hot chocolates. Here are a few 100% vegan brands that you can try.
Coconut Cloud: Dairy-Free Instant Hot Cocoa Mix
Coconut Cloud vegan hot chocolate powder is made with 100% organic vegan ingredients. It is certified gluten and soy free. It is available in so many different flavors, which are extremely delicious.
Castle Kitchen Double Dutch Dark Chocolate Premium Hot Cocoa Mix
Castle Kitchen’s Dutch dark hot cocoa mix is a strong and 100% vegan hot chocolate powder. It is made with natural sugars (processed without bone char), guar gum, and salt.
Double Donut Dairy Free Hot Chocolate Mix
The Double Donut dairy-free hot chocolate powder is made from dairy-free cocoa. It has no additional ingredients, so you don’t have to worry about anything. However, it comes in many different flavors. So, don’t forget to check the ingredients before buying.
Real Mushrooms Unsweetened Organic Hot Chocolate
Made with mushrooms, coconut milk powder, and cacao powder, you’ll love every sip. Its taste differs from conventional vegan hot chocolates because it has a hint of mushrooms.
How to check that your Hot Chocolate is Vegan?
- Look for vegan labels.
- Avoid ingredients like milk, skimmed milk, milk fat, buttercream, milk solids, lactose, whey, casein, lactose, and honey.
- Don’t worry about the word “butter” in cocoa butter. It is 100% dairy-free and vegan in raw form.
Is Cadbury’s Hot Chocolate Gluten-Free?
Cadbury’s hot chocolate is gluten-free. Most of the drinking and hot chocolate is naturally gluten-free. However, you must always check the ingredients and allergen information before buying.
Is Bournville Chocolate Vegan?
Bournville currently has 7 variants. Of the 7,2 are vegan, but like Cadbury’s hot chocolate, these 2 also have a cross-contamination warning for milk.
Is Milk Chocolate Vegan?
Milk chocolate is usually not vegan. However, many brands sell vegan milk chocolate. You can also make milk chocolate at home using plant-based milk.
Is Dark Chocolate Vegan?
Yes. Many dark chocolate varieties are vegan. You can have Lindt, Callebaut, and Whittaker’s dark chocolates.
Is White Chocolate Vegan?
Yes and no. Most store-bought white chocolate is not vegan. However, many brands make vegan white chocolate using cocoa and plant-based milk.
Is Starbucks Hot Chocolate Vegan?
No. It is not vegan. On the contrary, you can make it vegan by removing animal-derived ingredients and adding plant-based milk.
Is Costa Hot Chocolate Vegan?
Costa Hot Chocolate is vegan but with a cross-contamination warning. Since all the orders are prepared at the same place, there is a chance that non-vegan ingredients may enter your vegan food.
