Is Fig Newtons Vegan?
Vegan
Not certifiedThe current Newtons Soft and Fruit Chewy Fig Cookies sold in US stores today contain no animal-derived ingredients on the label. The filling is fig paste with corn syrup and sugar, the outer cake uses wheat flour and plant-based oils, and no dairy, eggs, gelatin, or honey appear. The product is not certified vegan, but its standard ingredient deck is plant-based, making it accidentally vegan for most practical purposes.
The catch: Cane sugar in the formula is likely processed through bone char, which many strict vegans avoid. The sourcing of the "natural and artificial flavor" is also undisclosed. Neither issue shows up on the label, so the product reads clean, but it is not verified bone-char-free.
Category
Snacks
Verdict
Vegan
Brand
Nabisco (Mondelez International)
Older packaging (pre-2018 formulations identifiable by the presence of partially hydrogenated cottonseed oil and high fructose corn syrup) did list "Whey (from Milk)" as an ingredient. That formula has been reformulated off shelves since PHOs were removed from the US food supply.
The current product carries only wheat and soy as declared allergens, with no milk disclosure. Calcium lactate appears in the ingredient list and sounds dairy-derived.
It can be made from either plant or animal sources, but Fig Newtons declare no milk allergen, so the calcium lactate used here is not dairy-derived. The bone-char sugar caveat applies to both sugar and invert sugar in the formula.
Vegans who avoid bone-char-processed cane sugar entirely will want to skip Fig Newtons in favor of certified alternatives. Other Newton flavors (strawberry, blueberry) share the same basic plant-based formula without dairy, but flavor-specific ingredients should be checked individually.
The product is not certified vegan by any organization.
Vegan alternatives
- ✓ Nature's Bakery Whole Wheat Fig Bars (certified vegan, Non-GMO, widely available)
- ✓ Trader Joe's Fig Cookies (plant-based ingredients, no dairy listed)
- ✓ Homemade fig bars using whole wheat flour, fig jam, and coconut oil
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Looking to make your own? Browse our vegan swaps.
Other snacks
Frequently asked
Is Fig Newtons Vegan?
The current Newtons Soft and Fruit Chewy Fig Cookies sold in US stores today contain no animal-derived ingredients on the label. The filling is fig paste with corn syrup and sugar, the outer cake uses wheat flour and plant-based oils, and no dairy, eggs, gelatin, or honey appear. The product is not certified vegan, but its standard ingredient deck is plant-based, making it accidentally vegan for most practical purposes.
What is the catch with Fig Newtons?
Cane sugar in the formula is likely processed through bone char, which many strict vegans avoid. The sourcing of the "natural and artificial flavor" is also undisclosed. Neither issue shows up on the label, so the product reads clean, but it is not verified bone-char-free.
What can I use instead of Fig Newtons?
Vegan options include Nature's Bakery Whole Wheat Fig Bars (certified vegan, Non-GMO, widely available), Trader Joe's Fig Cookies (plant-based ingredients, no dairy listed), Homemade fig bars using whole wheat flour, fig jam, and coconut oil.
Is Fig Newtons certified vegan?
Fig Newtons does not carry a third-party vegan certification, so the verdict here is based on its current ingredient list and manufacturer information.
Sources
Last verified June 20, 2026. See how we verify. Always confirm on the current product label, since recipes change. Product photo via Open Food Facts.
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