While fall does not even start until late September, this year, we’re already in full pumpkin mode with the help of Dolly Parton’s baking mixes.
We’re spending the upcoming cozy season cuddled on the couch with our cats and dogs, who are getting innovative treats and food options from companies looking to make the pet food industry more sustainable.
And one of our favorite childhood snacks, Cheetos, just got a limited-edition dairy-free makeover in Canada. Read on for more.
Food news
With pumpkin spice season officially upon us, we’re looking to satisfy our cravings for fall baked goods. This autumn, Dolly Parton is coming to the rescue with a new baking mix for pumpkin cookies from her collaboration with Duncan Hines. The box produces 24 soft and chewy pumpkin cookies with a hint of spice.
Duncan Hines
While the baking mix is vegan, the instructions call for dairy and eggs—but we’ve got a guide to help you make easy plant-based substitutions here.
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Over in Canada, a new product from Frito-Lay is slated to hit store shelves soon: Vegan White Cheddar Cheetos. First spotted by Instagrammer @accidentally_vegan_canada, the new snack is a dairy-free, white cheddar version of the classic corn puff.
While initial reports announced that the vegan Cheetos were available at Real Canadian Superstore, a representative for PepsiCo Foods (parent company of Frito-Lay) tells VegNews that the new product is slated to launch soon in Canada but has not yet hit grocery stores.
In the meantime, if you’re looking for a crunchy and cheesy vegan snack that satisfies just like Cheetos, Hippeas offers chickpea-based Vegan White Cheddar puffs that are just as delicious. Plus, the snack company just launched another limited edition cheezy flavor: Mexican Street Corn, which combines zesty lime with a mellow cheezy vibe.
For a sweeter snack, Hippeas also launched a limited-edition Churro flavor, which is lightly sweet with a hint of cinnamon.
Hippeas
“As demand rises for unique and indulgent flavors, we are very excited to expand our line of Hippeas Chickpea Puffs with these two new flavors,” Julia Hecht, CMO of Hippeas, said in a statement. “They’re the perfect snack to brighten up your day—whether you’re at the beach, entertaining, or snacking at the office.”
“Not only are the puffs delicious, but they contain the nutritional benefits of both protein and fiber as well as no artificial colors, flavors, or ingredients of any kind,” Hecht said.
Hippeas snacks are available at major retailers such as Whole Foods, Target, Wegmans, and Amazon.
Pet news
For your next cozy movie night, your best fur buddy can have a little snack, too. That’s because Vegdog just launched popcorn made just for dogs. The new “VegPops” are potato-based treats the company is adding to its permanent lineup after initially introducing them in its 2023 VegDog Advent calendar.
VegDog
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VegDog Pops are a low-calorie option for dogs—who can thrive on a plant-based diet—with each piece containing less than one calorie and made from just three ingredients. These treats are particularly suitable for dogs with sensitive stomachs or chewing difficulties, as the use of potatoes instead of rice makes them easier to digest. Their low-calorie content makes them also a good choice for training, even if you’re just trying to get your dog to sit with you through a movie marathon on the couch.
VegDog currently ships throughout Germany and the European Union.
Wild Earth
Speaking of our furry companions, there’s great news for cats in the United States from Wild Earth, a company dedicated to revolutionizing the pet food industry. While cats are obligate carnivores, requiring specific nutrients typically found in animal products, Wild Earth has developed a groundbreaking alternative with its first-ever vegan cat food: Unicorn Pate.
This nutritionally complete wet cat food is carefully formulated to meet all of a cat’s dietary needs. It includes essential nutrients such as taurine, an amino acid critical for heart health, vision, and digestion, which cats cannot synthesize on their own.
Taurine is typically found in animal tissues, but Wild Earth has supplemented Unicorn Pate with a plant-based source of taurine to ensure that this vital nutrient is present in adequate amounts. The formula also includes DL-Methionine, another essential amino acid, and L-Tryptophan, both of which are crucial for maintaining overall health in cats.
“We know and expect aggressive resistance from the meat industry on the launch of this industry pioneering vegan cat food, but we know there are many cat parents looking for healthier, plant-based, and more sustainable options,” Wild Earth CEO Ryan Bethencourt said in a statement. “We want to be the leader in providing them with that choice.”
While making sure that cats have all of their required nutrients is key, a meatless diet might actually be beneficial for felines. A recent study by Professor Andrew Knight, a leading researcher in veterinary science, suggests that cats on such diets can experience fewer health issues compared to those on traditional meat-based diets.
According to Knight’s research, cats fed nutritionally complete vegan diets were found to be 7 percent less likely to visit the vet frequently and about 15 percent less likely to be on medication. This research underscores that with careful formulation, cats can thrive on a vegan diet, addressing concerns about their nutritional adequacy.
Unicorn Pate is now available through Wild Earth’s website.
Friends & Family
Other companies are working to improve cat food, too. Umami Bioworks and Friends & Family Pet Food Co. recently teamed up to launch the world’s first cat treats made from cultivated fish—which uses cells from fish grown into meat in a bioreactor. These treats are designed to provide nutrition for cats while reducing the environmental impact associated with traditional fishing practices.
“Our collaboration with Friends & Family is a genuine testament to the commercial potential of cultivated seafood in transforming pet nutrition and ultimately human food systems,” Mihir Pershad, CEO of Umami Bioworks, said in a statement.
The collaboration combines Umami Bioworks’ advanced cultivated seafood technology with Friends & Family’s expertise in pet nutrition. The treats are enriched with cultured proteins and high-value microalgae, offering essential nutrients that support feline immunity and digestion. This innovation is part of a broader effort to address the strain on ocean resources by providing a more resource-efficient alternative to conventional pet food.
“These cultivated fish treats are a perfect example of how science and technology can be harnessed to create positive change in the pet food industry,” Joshua Errett, CEO of Friends & Family, said in a statement.
The cultivated fish treats are slated to debut in early 2025 in Singapore and San Francisco.
Restaurant news
We are big proponents of buying yourself a little treat as often as you need it. This week, there are two new options at bakery chain Tous les Jours: the Plantastic Raspberry Chocolate Cake and the Plantastic Blueberry Chocolate Cake.
Tous les Jours
Both mini cakes feature a rich, dense chocolate base topped with vegan cream cheese and fresh berries—either raspberries or blueberries.
“We’re delighted to introduce the Plantastic cake selection, as it reinforces our commitment to sustainability and innovation,” Sue Han, Marketing Manager for Tous les Jours, said in a statement. “These cakes are a delicious treat to close out the summer and a respectful nod to our planet.”
Designed to serve two to three people, the new Plantastic cakes ($18 each) are now available at participating Tous les Jours locations nationwide.
Kevin Preval
If you’re headed to Los Angeles for one last summer vacation, you must stop by Civico 2064 to sample its plant-based fare. This newly opened restaurant in Los Feliz, from the team behind San Diego’s popular Civico 1845, offers a fresh take on Calabrian cuisine, with nearly half of its menu dedicated to vegan options.
These dishes include innovative creations like vegan lasagna made with almond ricotta and soy milk béchamel, and a vegan Milanese featuring a breaded and fried eggplant cutlet topped with tomato sauce and vegan mozzarella.
“Nearly half of our menu is dedicated to vegan Italian dishes,” Chef Pietro Gallo, co-founder of Civico 2064, said in a statement. “We aim to offer meals that are both delicious and health-conscious, using seasonal vegetables, premium tomatoes, and Italian olive oil.”
“We’ve perfected our vegan versions of classic Italian ingredients, such as rice-based mozzarella, ricotta from almond cream, and soy milk béchamel, to create dishes like lasagna that are both satisfying and innovative,” Gallo said.
Peet’s Coffee
And lastly, let this be your friendly annual reminder that while Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Latte (PSL) remains non-customizable to be dairy-free (the pumpkin base contains dairy), Peet’s Coffee is stepping up once again with its vegan-friendly pumpkin latte. Available iced or hot, this pumpkin pie-inspired latte is made with the chain’s Espresso Forte and steamed milk and topped with a sprinkle of baking spices
Peet’s version is fully customizable, allowing you to choose from a variety of non-dairy milk options, including the newly introduced, super frothy Ripple Plant-Based Barista Milk.
“We are excited to partner with Peet’s, a company renowned for its dedication to quality,” Laura Flanagan, CEO of Ripple Foods, said in a statement. “At Ripple, we share this commitment and are proud to bring our delicious, plant-based barista milk to Peetniks across the country. This collaboration underscores our mutual goal of providing exceptional, high-quality dairy-free options, while also supporting a more sustainable future.”
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Anna Starostinetskaya is the Senior News Editor at VegNews and is always keeping an eye on all things vegan in her home city of San Francisco, CA and everywhere else.
Here at VegNews, we live and breathe the plant-based lifestyle, and only recommend products we feel make our lives amazing. Occasionally, articles may include shopping links where we might earn a small commission, but in no way does this effect the editorial integrity of VegNews.
