Veggie options at quick-service restaurant chains: an update on menu items at popular fast food and quick casual restaurant chains

Vegetarian Journal, April-June, 2008 by Jeanne Yacoubou

MacZura confirmed for us that the "enzymes in all of the doughs and cheeses are non-animal-derived." She also said, "The Pizza Cheese and String Cheese (used in the Stuffed Crust Pizza) ingredients are not of animal sources other than the milk itself."

MacZura explained that the "same bread dough is used in breadsticks and pizza, but the garlic bread dough is different." The garlic bread contains L-cysteine that MacZura reports is "animal-derived," but she could not indicate for us its specific animal source. The mono- and diglycerides in all the Pizza Hut bread products are vegetable-derived, coming from soy oil.

Here are more specifics on the many pizza doughs at Pizza Hut: The Thin 'N Crispy[R] Dough, the Hand-Tossed Style Dough, and the Stuffed Crust Dough appear to be free of animal products. The XL Full House[TM] Dough, the Bistro Dough, and the 4ForAll[R] are as well, but they contain sugar. The Bigfoot Dough Blend contains a dairy blend. The Pall Pizza and Personal Pan Pizza doughs contain whey. The Sicilian Dough is listed as having natural flavors of a non-reported source.

The Regular Pizza Sauce and the Sweet Pizza Sauce appear free of animal ingredients. The White Pizza Sauce contains both egg and dairy products. The Taco Bean Sauce is listed as having 'beef flavor,' although it does not appear to be made from beef.

The onion rings contain whey and the Jalapeno Poppers[R] contain whey and egg whites. The natural flavors in the onion rings, Jalapeno Poppers[R], breadsticks, and the cheese breadsticks "are all vegetable-based flavors except [that] the cheese sticks do have one flavor that is milk-derived." MacZura also stated that the breadsticks and onion rings "are baked separately from any animal products." She pointed out, however, if a particular restaurant has 'Wing Street' brand chicken wings, the onion rings could be fried in the same oil as the chicken wings. Patrons can request that they be baked in an oven.

Readers may note that all appetizers at Pizza Hut contain whey, and, in some cases, other dairy-, egg-, or animal-derived ingredients. The Marinara Dipping Sauce used with many appetizers contains cheese. The Dulce de Leche Caramel Dipping Sauce contains several dairy products. The Garlic Herb Spread contains eggs.

Pizza Hut offers an optional Parmesan Parsley Blend packet made with non-animal-derived enzyme in the Parmesan cheese. MacZura told us that it "may be on some pizzas around the crust in some Limited Time Offers, but it would be labeled as such." Patrons can always ask that their pizza be made without it.

The Pasta Bakes[R] Marinara served at Pizza Hut appears to be all-vegetable with the exception of the white sauce, which contains a chicken base. This dish can be ordered without the white sauce.

The Pasta Bake Primavera can also be ordered without the white sauce. The rotelli and the Veggie Medley of these dishes appear free of animal ingredients. The spaghetti served at Pizza Hut, except that on the Bistro Menu, is free of animal ingredients.