Jammie Dodgers are delicious jam-filled biscuits. But are Jammie Dodgers vegan? The answer depends on whether you buy Jammie Dodgers that are manufactured by Burton’s or some other brand.
Jammie Dodgers were vegan, then not vegan… Now vegan again!
The recipe for Jammie Dodgers has changed several times since the jam-centred shortbread biscuit was introduced in 1966.
Jammie Dodgers were vegan for many years until 2016 when Burton’s Biscuit Company adjusted the recipe to ‘improve the flavour and texture’, and added milk protein to this once vegan-friendly snack.
The recipe change outraged both vegans and people with lactose intolerance who complained in droves with one online petition attracting over 8,000 signatures.
Luckily, the complaining paid off, as in July 2020 Burton’s Biscuit Company changed the recipe once more making Jammie Dodgers dairy-free again.
Suggested read: Complete list of vegan biscuits in the UK
Can vegans eat Jammie Dodgers?
Jammie Dodgers have been suitable for vegans since milk protein was removed from the recipe in July 2020. When buying Jammie Dodgers, vegans should still check the packaging to make sure that they’re picking up a packet from the new batch, not the old ones which contain milk.
To help identify the new vegan Jammie Dodgers, the packing has also changed to a new darker red colour. The old packets say ‘BEST EVER RECIPE’ on the front, which could be a little confusing, as surely a biscuit that’s free from animal secretions is better for everyone?
The new Jammie Dodgers packets have the slogan ‘NO NASTY STUFF! WE’RE JAMMIE ENOUGH’ which seems very fitting for a jam-filled vegan-friendly biscuit!
What’s inside a Jammie Dodger?
Jammie Dodgers are round shortcake biscuits filled with raspberry-flavoured apple jam. The biscuits are made in two layers, with the jam sandwiched in between. They have a heart-shaped hole in the top layer so that you can see the jam peeking out.
Apple jam? Not raspberry?
That’s right, whilst Jammie Dodgers are indeed labelled as being ‘raspberry flavour’, the jam is actually apple jam, flavoured with raspberry flavouring.
The reason for this is that apples are rich in pectin, which is great for setting jam. Raspberries don’t have much pectin, so raspberry jam wouldn’t be stiff enough to hold the top and the bottom pieces of the biscuit together.
In the past, raspberry-flavoured plum jam has been used in Jammie Dodgers for the same reason.
Do Jammie Dodgers contain milk?
Jammie Dodgers don’t contain any milk or dairy products. Importantly for allergy sufferers, Jammie Dodgers are also made on a separate production line from biscuits which do contain milk. This means that Jammie Dodgers are completely dairy free so they’re suitable for people with a milk allergy as well as vegans.
Suggested read: Is food that ‘may contain milk’ vegan?
Do Jammie Dodgers contain palm oil?
Jammie Dodgers do contain palm oil. However, the palm oil that’s used is sustainable which means that it’s acceptable for the majority of vegans.
Some vegans choose to avoid foods which contain palm oil because its production destroys the habitats of animals. However, palm oil which has been certified as sustainable by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) is highly unlikely to damage the environment or harm animals.
Jammie Dodgers ingredients
Wheat Flour (with Calcium Carbonate, Iron, Niacin and Thiamin), Raspberry Flavoured Apple Jam (27%) (Glucose-Fructose Syrup, Apples (Apple, Preservative (Sodium Metabisulphite)), Sugar, Humectant (Glycerol), Acid (Citric Acid), Acidity Regulator (Sodium Citrates), Flavourings, Colours (Anthocyanins, Annatto), Gelling Agent (Pectin)), Vegetable Oils (Sustainable Palm, Rapeseed), Sugar, Partially Inverted Sugar Syrup, Raising Agents (Ammonium Bicarbonate, Sodium Bicarbonate), Salt, Flavourings
Are Jammie Dodgers Minis suitable for vegans?
As well as the original Jammie Dodgers, Burton’s Biscuit Company also make snack packs of mini Jammie Dodgers.
Mini Jammie Dodgers aren’t just smaller versions of Jammie Dodgers, they actually have a different recipe, which includes plums instead of apples, amongst other things.
The good news is that Jammie Dodgers Minis are suitable for vegans. However, they are made on the same production line as other products which contain milk and eggs, so they may not be suitable for people with severe allergies.
Are Jammie Dodgers Jam & Yoghurt Snacks vegan?
Jammie Dodgers Jam & Yoghurt snacks contain real yoghurt, which is made from milk, so they are not suitable for vegans. They also contain egg powder and the palm oil isn’t marked as being from a sustainable source.
Are other brands of ‘Jammy Dodgers’ vegan?
Most supermarkets have their own version of Jammie Dodgers. These go by various names but are essentially the same type of biscuit.
The following table shows which copycat Jammy Dodgers brands are suitable for vegans…
Brand | Biscuit name | Vegan? |
---|---|---|
Burton’s | Jammie Dodgers | YES |
Fox’s | Jam ‘n’ Cream | No |
Organix | Jammie Monsters | YES |
Tesco | Jam Sandwich Creams | No |
Asda | Jam & Creams | No |
Sainsbury’s | Jam Sandwich Creams | No |
Aldi | Jammy Wheels | No |
Lidl | Jammy Rings | No |
As you can see, the only other brand of jam-filled shortbread biscuits is Organix, and those are aimed at toddlers. These are definitely the healthiest Jammie Dodgers alternatives, but unless you have a very small appetite, you should look for the real Jammie Dodgers.
The only Jammie Dodgers which are suitable for vegans are Burton’s Jammie Dodgers. Supermarket own brands usually contain milk.
Conclusion
Vegans across the UK are thrilled that Jammie Dodgers are suitable for vegans once more and we hope that it stays that way. Be sure to check the packet to make sure that yours have the new recipe, and watch out for copycat Jammie Dodger brands – they’re probably not vegan.
For more info on which biscuits are vegan and which aren’t check out this list: The complete list of vegan biscuits in the UK.